Mary Lee Ackert, 79
Mary Lee (Scranton) Ackert, 79, an award-winning local artist, passed away Friday, April 12 in the loving presence of her family.
She leaves her husband of 57 years, Robert P. Ackert, Sr., of Fort Myers Beach, sister Jo Ann Main of North Carolina, son Robert P. Ackert, Jr. and wife Ruby Ackert-Herzig of Falmouth, Mass., daughter Lindsay Chandler and husband Geoffrey Chandler of Waterville, Vermont and four grandchildren Stephen Chandler, Martin Chandler, Freeland Ackert and Adele Ackert. Extended family members include Philip and Rita Ackert, Alison Ackert-Smith and children, Lauren Ackert, Mark & Susanne Hankins, and Carol Hankins and children. Lee was pre-deceased by her siblings, Walter L. Scranton, Jr., J. Lynn Scranton and Billie Dawn Hankins.
Lee was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to the Rev. Walter L. and Fannie Scranton. She grew up in White Plains, New York, spending many summers at the family’s rustic house in the Catskills. She studied Interior Design at Syracuse University where she met her future husband who was studying at Cornell and married in White Plains, N.Y., Aug. 13, 1955 during Hurricane Agnes.
She was an elementary art teacher in Billerica, Mass., for many years. Lee and Bob moved to Florida in 1978 where she became involved with the Fort Myers Beach Art Association as a teacher and president. Lee was a signature member and past president of the Florida Watercolor Society.
Lee loved the outdoors and lived life enthusiastically, enjoyed skiing and sailing with her family and took up scuba diving in her mid-40s. Bob and Lee summered in Vermont, “relaxing” by the lake with the family at their summer cottage at Basin Harbor. She was always willing to lend a hand in the latest family project whether it was re-roofing a house, caring for a new grandchild or bringing in the hay on her children’s farms.
Lee and Bob’s world travels included Europe, Australia, New Zealand and a cruise through the Panama Canal. Wherever they went, Lee brought her sketchbook and many of their trips were highlighted in her paintings.
A memorial service was held at April 16 at the Beach United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to: Lee Ackert Memorial Fund, FMB Art Association, P. O. Box 2359, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932-2359.