Dorcas F. McLean

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Dorcas F. McLean peacefully passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the very young age of 91, in Melbourne, Fla.

She was born in Portland, Maine, as Dorcas Anne Frost on July 4, 1934 to Richard and Helen (Locke) Frost. She was the oldest of four children, brother Albert, and then “the twins” Brenda and Brian. She grew up in Portland, living on Ocean Avenue, Maine Avenue and the Stroudwater area. She was a 1952 graduate of Deering High School and attended Mt. Ida College in Massachusetts.

Dorcas was a loving, kind, selfless person with many, many friends, and a large, growing family. She worked many jobs throughout her life, including: Rines Brothers Department Store on Congress Street in downtown Portland, Sunday School teacher at Woodfords Congregational Church, and running her own daycare at her home on Warwick Street, where she watched over many neighborhood children as well as her own nieces. Once her own children were older, she became a school bus driver’s aide, a school bus driver, and then the Director of Transportation for the City of Portland School Department, which was an accomplishment she always felt very proud of.

She met the love of her life, Richard C. McLean, upon his return to Portland after serving in the Air Force. They were married on June 2, 1956. Daughter Heidi was born in 1957, followed by son John in 1961. Their house on Warwick Street was full of love and activity and became the neighborhood gathering spot for get-togethers and fun.

Dorcas and “Dickie” loved to entertain and enjoyed time with family and friends wherever they were. Winters would find them in the woods of Stratton, Maine, first skiing at Sugarloaf, later snowmobiling around Flagstaff Lake and Bigelow Mountain. Summers were spent on Sebago Lake, and later it became their home as Dickie ran Frost Harbor Marina for her family’s boat business.

Dorcas was not your typical 50’s and 60’s stay at home Mom. She was full of energy and spirit, loving to join the family in all activities, often being the leader. She rode show horses as a youth and teen, skied, drove a school bus, rode motorcycles, drove boats, waterskied, and was very active in many community events and celebrations, while always teaching Heidi and John the meaning of love, family, respect for others, and how to truly enjoy life to the fullest.

With a birthday on the 4th of July, Dorcas always made sure that everyone celebrated on that day. She told all who would listen, “the fireworks are for my birthday.” Many Family July 4th celebrations took place over the years, first at Aunt Marge and Uncle Frank’s house in Portland, and later at the house on Sebago Lake in Raymond.

Upon their retirement, Dorcas and Dickie found fun in the sun, going to Melbourne, Fla. for winters. After the death of her beloved Dickie in 2004, Dorcas moved back into Portland, and a couple of years later found her winter home in a 55 plus community in Melbourne Beach. She became an integral part of her Florida community. She could be found in the pool doing water aerobics, helping plan the many daily activities, joining in the sunset happy hours, partying with the best of them or just sitting in the lanai with her jigsaw puzzles. Everyone loved Dorcas, and most would stop into the lanai, sit, talk, laugh, plan, and help on the puzzle.

Wherever she was, love, family, friends, and enjoying life with a smile and laughter were sure to be around Dorcas. She will be missed by all who knew her. Her energy, her love, her kindness, her spirit, her “joie de vivre”, will live in us forever.

Dorcas was predeceased by her parents, Richard and Helen; her brother Albert and sister-in-law Jean; and her beloved Dickie, Richard C. McLean.

She is survived by her sister Brenda (Gail) Frost, her brother Brian (Myong) Frost; daughter Heidi (Peter) Litman and son John (Linda) McLean. She has five grandchildren whom she adored and cherished, always keeping up on their lives and antics: Brian McLean, Drew Litman, Keith (Jennie) Litman, Julie (Dan) Beressi, and Cody (Kristyn) McLean. She leaves behind 11 great- grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, along with their children and grandchildren. The visits from all the children would light her up for hours and days. The stories of their lives and activities kept her young. Buying gifts and cards for everyone, receiving and making phone calls from the kids, and hearing of their pursuits, brought her joy.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday, March 15, at the Portland Elks Club on outer Congress Street, at 2 p.m. She and Dickie were active members of the Elks, enjoying many dances, dinners and celebrations there. She also served as President of the Emblem Club there.

A private family burial will take place in the spring.

In lieu of flowers,

donations in her memory can be made to:

American Diabetes

Association

at diabetes.org or:

Alzheimer’s Association

at alz.org