SEARSMONT – H. Joyce Withee, beloved wife of Norman R. Withee, passed away unexpectedly Oct. 8, 2010. Joyce was born Feb. 15, 1931, in Rockland, the daughter of Peter and Hilda (Harju) Hill, the youngest of their five children. She attended Rockport schools until her parents moved the family to the Alta Vista Farm, Muzzy Ridge Road, Searsmont, in 1938. She attended Searsmont and Belfast schools, and Gorham State Teachers College. Joyce married Norman Withee of Portland, April 24, 1949. Norman’s career took them to several towns in Maine, including Belfast, Searsmont, Greenville and Guilford. Once her three children were in school, Joyce worked in varied positions as a substitute teacher and aide, weather observer for the state of Maine Forestry Service, a court officer and census bureau employee. Her quest for knowledge and attention to detail has always prevailed. Joyce volunteered tirelessly to communities where she lived. She attended the University of Maine, gaining a certification in library sciences, which she applied as a volunteer and board of directors member of Guilford Memorial Library and Bangor Public Library in the Children’s Room. Moving back to Searsmont in 1987 she established Searsmont Town Library. From a simple reading room grew a full-fledged accredited library with the support and aid of other community members. Joyce was a willing and energetic advocate of establishing a new community building to house a library, town offices, heritage room and community room in Searsmont. In 1998 she turned over the leadership of the library yet remained very active until the new facility was completed. In recognition, as the first librarian, the library displays her portrait and a scholarship fund was established in her name. Joyce then concentrated her efforts on Searsmont Historical Society. She became the curator, applying her organizational skills to create professional standard systems. She was an expert on the history of Searsmont and an avid researcher for those seeking genealogical information. Joyce was also a talented artist, writer, storyteller, gardener and homemaker. Joyce was very proud of her Finnish heritage. She and her family traveled to Finland in 2004 to visit the regions where her parents had lived and meet her extended family. She thoroughly enjoyed life and everything it offered. Joyce’s husband, children and grandchildren gave her the greatest pleasure. Joyce was predeceased by her parents; her sisters, Aune Hill, Anna “Lil” Stearns and her husband, Lester, and Irja Wilson and husband, William; and brother, Viljo Hill. Norman and Joyce have three children, Karen J. Withee of Searsmont, Mark Withee and his wife, Bonnie Flaherty, of Sullivan and Valerie and her husband, Ronald Nielsen, of Freeport; three grandchildren, Michelle Withee of Ellsworth, and Kurt Nielsen and Erika Nielsen, both of Freeport; sister-in-law, Pauline Hill of Searsmont; brother-in-law, Owen Gross of Stonington; a close family friend, John McGarvey of Winter Haven, Fla.; many nieces and nephews. Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Searsmont Methodist Church with the Rev. George Hodgkins officiating. A reception will be held after the service at Searsmont Community Center. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to H. Joyce Withee Scholarship Fund, care of Town of Searsmont, P.O. Box 56, Searsmont, ME 04973. Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain St., Camden.
H. JOYCE WITHEE
