MAPLETON – Rev. Joanne Hunter, wife of James Hunter of Mapleton, passed away on Monday, March 8, 2004. at a Bangor hospital. She awaits the soon coming of her Savior, Jesus the Christ. She was born Aug. 21, 1931, in Portland, the daughter of Thomas and Mabel (Stoddard) Howland. She was educated in Portland Schools and attended two years at Westbrook Jr. College. She transferred to The University of Maine at Orono and graduated in 1953 with a BA in math. She taught high school mathematics at Bridgewater and Meredith, N.H., prior to her marriage on June 26, 1955. She began teaching again in 1966 at Easton High School and continued there for a total of 23 years, retiring in 1989. While at Easton she coached girl’s basketball and advised the Bible Club. Joanne was ordained a minister of the gospel at the State Road Advent Christian Church on Sept. 28, 1984. In the early 1980’s she acted as a volunteer staff member for the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship at the UMPI campus for several years. From 1986 to 1989, she assisted with a summer ministry program at Masardis and Oxbow. In 1989 after her retirement, she accepted the position of pastor at the Castle Hill Advent Christian Church and has served as senior pastor since that time. She served on the Maine State Advent Christian Conference ministerial board for several years. Joanne is survived by her husband of nearly 49 years, James; their daughters, Barbara (Hunter) Miller and her husband, Stuart, of Reedville, Pa., Rebecca Hunter and her husband, David Lake, of Salisbury, N.H., Deborah (Hunter) Tarr and her husband, Mark, of Washburn; as well as their son, Richard Hunter and his wife, Susan, of Pensacola, Fla. Joanne is also survived by her grandchildren, James and William Brewer, Andrew Miller and Carrie Lee Hunter and her twin sisters, Elsie Copp and Eleanor Gorman; and also her brother, Paul Howland. Private funeral services will be held at the Castle Hill Advent Church on Friday, March 12, 2004. A celebration of Joanne’s life will be celebrated Saturday, March 20, 2004, at the State Road Advent Christian Church. Spring interment will be in Riverside Ext. Cemetery, Washburn. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to the Castle Hill Advent Christian Church, care of Lucy Lovley, 323 Turner Road, Castle Hill, ME 04757. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
REV. JOANNE HUNTER
