CARIBOU – Joan Keaton, 73, wife of the late Alonzo Keaton Jr., died March 1, 2009, in Caribou, after a long battle with emphysema. She was born May 11, 1935, in St. Francis, daughter of the late Jerry and Odile (Morin) Ouellette. Joan attended St. Francis and Fort Kent schools, and she married Alonzo Keaton Jr., May 11, 1954. Joan was a full-time mother to her nine children, but still managed to work as a cook at Caribou Junior High School for a time and was affectionately called “Mom” by many of the students. She also had numerous cleaning jobs that she worked in her spare time. Joan was very patriotic. She proved this by being a lifetime member and past president of both Lister Knowlton Post No. 9389 VFW and Henry B. Pratt Post No. 15 American Legion Ladies Auxiliaries. She spent countless hours working bingo and cooking and catering for both organizations. She volunteered many hours at Caribou Senior Citizens Bingo. Joan was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, where she was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. She was a dedicated volunteer and baked sweets for bingo, as well as the Maine Veterans’ Home for many years. Joan loved to quilt and for many years she would make a quilt that was given to the first New Year’s baby at Cary Medical Center. She was ready to help anyone in need. She opened her home to people who needed a place to stay and always had more than enough food for extra company that came for a Sunday meal. She was a strong and proud woman. She is survived by five sons and their wives, Mike and Sue Keaton, Rick and Diane Keaton, Ken Keaton and his fiancee, Tamra Flint, all of Caribou, Peter Keaton of Veazie, and Tom Keaton and his fiancee, Tushana Muszar, of Biloxi, Miss.; four daughters and their spouses, Judy and Bob Ouellette of Tucson, Ariz., Lisa Keaton and Lisa McClaine, both of Skowhegan, Theresa and Ed Dube, and Shelley and Brian Massey, all of Caribou; 22 grandchildren with one more due in the spring, eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Ervin Ouellette and his wife, Joyce, of St. Francis; two sisters, Monica Jandreau, and Dorilla and her husband, Lincoln Ouellette, of St. Francis; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Alonzo, March 9, 1998; three brothers, Camille, Rudolph and Norman; two sisters, Bertile Walker and Clara Picard; and a granddaughter, Kathleen. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir St., Caribou. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, March 5, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie, pastor, officiating. Interment will be at Old Holy Rosary Cemetery. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of Mrs. Keaton may do so through the charity of ones choice. For an online register, please go to mocklerfuneralhome.com.
JOAN KEATON
