BERWICK – Anita Kelly Guptill was taken into God’s loving care June 2, 2010, ending a long illness. She previously resided in nursing homes in Jonesport and Machias, and came to Berwick in November 2009, where under hospice supervision, she resided and was cared for by her daughter-in-law, husband and son. Anita was born Dec. 1, 1916, in Lubec, the daughter of James Ernest Kelly and Grace Myers Kelley. She was educated in Lubec schools and graduated from Lubec High School in 1933. She then went to Washington State Normal School, graduating with a three-year junior high school certificate in 1936. Her career as a teacher began in Whiting, followed by positions in Ellsworth, North Windham, Portland, Lubec and Marshfield, at Washington State Teachers College, as a substitute, and Rose Gaffney School, Machias, during which she taught levels from nursery school to adult education. Anita earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State Teachers College in 1956. She took graduate courses at New England Conservatory of Music; University of Maine, Orono; University of Maine, Machias; Harvard University and Boston University. She graduated with a Master of Education degree from UMO, in 1965, with a major in psychology and minor in music. While teaching at Rose Gaffney School, she was the off-campus representative of the student teaching committee at UMM. She also attended adult education courses at UMO and earned a director of adult education certificate from University of Connecticut, Storrs. She was a member, officer and committee chairman of Machias Valley Teachers Club and member of Machias Education Association, Maine Education Association, National Education Association and Parent Teacher Association. On June 28, 1938, she married Robert Guptill. During her time in Portland, she was a member of Chestnut Street Methodist Church, choir and young peoples group. She then moved back to Machias after the birth of her son, Stephen. She became a member and organist of Machias Methodist Church. With the closing of that church, she became member and organist of Centre Street Congregational Church UCC, and later organist of East Machias Congregational Church, until her retirement. Anita was a member and held offices in Ursula Penniman Club, Washington County Extension Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, Lubec Grange, Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Woman’s Auxiliary, Mother’s Circle of Demolay and Machias Bay Chamber Concerts Inc. Upon retirement in 1978 Anita studied organ performance under Mary Cheney Gould and taught piano performance. Music, plays, contract bridge, gardening and car trips with her husband, Bob, were her favorite relaxations. Most dear to her heart was her son, Stephen and his wife, Zoa; two grandsons, Robert Schuyler Guptill and Daniel Kelley Guptill; her two younger sisters, Pauline Kelley Morrison of Burlington, Mass., and Ina Kelley Sleight and husband, Earland, of Bangor; and cousin, Miriam Doherty of Lubec. At Anita’s request, services will be private and officiated by Pastor Betty Duzen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Machias Center Street Church Music, Bay Chamber Concerts, Porter Memorial Library, UMM and Lubec Public Library. Arrangements are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market St., North Berwick. For online condolences, please visit www.JohnsonFuneralHomeMe.com.
ANITA KELLY GUPTILL
