SANGERVILLE – Selma Iona Howell, 92, passed away Dec. 30, 2011, at Hibbard Nursing Home, Dover-Foxcroft. She was born July 24, 1919, in Dover-Foxcroft, daughter of Guy L. and Albena A. (Shannon) Bonsey.
She was the fourth child of seven siblings. She attended Dover-Foxcroft schools and graduated in 1937. She also attended school in Springvale, with National Youth Association. Selma worked at J.J. Newberry’s department store and as a live in nanny for the Stracton family in Boston. In 1940, she married James Wilson Howell and lived for 68 years on the Howell Farm, Silvers Mills Road, Sangerville, and worked in the Guilford woolen mill for 15 years.
Selma is survived by a sibling, Ann Bonsey True Dow of Augusta; three children, Brenda Maguire and her husband, James, of Gardiner, James Howell of Redwood City, Calif., and Susan Easterbrooks and her husband, John, of Yakima, Wash.; grandchildren, Tami Perry of Biddeford, Jennifer Vainio of Saco, Steven Vainio and his wife, Shirleen, of Monson, James Howell Jr. of Redwood City, Calif., Shannon Howell of Stockton, Calif., Lindsay Brown and her husband, Kevin, of Oregon, and Shannon Sampson and her husband, Andrew, of Washington; and great-grandchildren, Chastity and Hannah Vainio, Rebecca Caron, Emmett Sampson and Talin Howell. Selma was predeceased by her husband, Wilson Howell; five of her siblings; and grandchild, Julie Ann Vainio.
Friends may call 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Crosby & Neal, 21 Oak St., Guilford, where funeral services will be held 6 p.m. with the Rev. Paul Murray officiating. A luncheon for family and friends will be at Aunt DD’s Restaurant, Elm Street, Guilford. Spring burial will be at Sangerville Village Cemetery. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route One, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04072. For an online guest register, go to
www.CrosbyNeal.com.