Frank Joseph Lizotte

Mr. Frank Joseph Lizotte, 87, of Union Grove, NC, lovingly known as Poppa, was welcomed home into Heaven on Monday, May 6, 2024.  He left us peacefully and surrounded by family after an extended stay in the hospital for injuries received in a car accident.

Frank was born in Claremont, NH on May 7, 1936, to Romeo Lucien and Elizabeth Daigneault Lizotte. Frank was the oldest of four children.

Frank joined the United States Army at the age of 17 and served three years during the Korean war. Following his return stateside he utilized what he had learned in service and became a mechanic. He eventually attended and graduated from the Ford Motors Institute. Furthering his passion for mechanical engineering, he spent the largest portion of his working years with Fellows Gear Shaper in Springfield, VT.  As he grew in knowledge he was moved from the plant to the field where he traveled the world, setting up plants, re-engineering, and setting new tooling requirements, which he did for upwards of 30 years. During this time, he was promoted to supervisor of the company’s Mechanical Engineering Department, Eastern U.S. and settled his family in NC.  He took part in the retooling of Harley Davidson in 1985, he set up the gear shaping department for Saturn’s plant in Tennessee, and he traveled to Italy where he spent almost a year at Indaldi & Matteucci setting up their plant. He received an honorary Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering for the sheer mass of knowledge he accumulated over his career. Frank retired from Fellows in 1998 and started his own company and continued to travel, repair and teach until 2020.

Frank was so much more than just what he did for a living.  While engineering and working on machines was one of his passions, his family was surely his other. He was the epitome of what a man should be and what a father should be, what a husband, friend, neighbor should be. He had a huge heart, which surely outweighed his body. He made the impossible possible.  He taught his children and his grandchildren what a work ethic was, what true character is, and to always keep your word. He was an incredible human, quick to laughter and slow to anger, and would do anything for anyone in need.  He made neighbors into friends and friends into family. He enjoyed a good hard days work and spending time on his farm. He had a connection to the earth and would look out over the fields at the end of the day, enjoying a cold beer and a cigarette and smile. He had a life well lived and well-loved and well deserving of eternity in Glory, his crown was surely full.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Frank Joseph Lizotte II; his daughter, Cherryll Louise Bailey; and a brother, David Lizotte.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Frances Deliah LeMere Lizotte; his daughter, Michelle Lizotte Norman and husband Joseph Mears, of Pampa, TX; five grandchildren, Daniel Allen Bailey of Texas, Jeremy Scott Bailey and wife Roseanne of Wilkesboro, NC, Marie Louise Bailey Parker and husband Joshua, of Millers Creek, NC,  Tristain Frances-Leigh Hux and husband Chris, of Pampa, TX, and Rhianna Elizabeth-Jean Norman, Union Grove, NC; seven great-grandchildren, Sailym Bailey, Ainsley Bailey, Allysa Bailey, Easton Lizotte, Layla Lizotte, Colt Bailey and Jacob Parker; and one sister and brother, Esther LeMere and Paul Lizotte

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024.  Please contact the family for details or wait for an invitation to be extended.

In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to a charity of one’s choice in Frank’s name.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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