SOUTHWEST HARBOR, Maine – Joan L. Horton, 89, widow of Warren H. Horton passed away on June 7, 2018, at her home in Southwest Harbor. Her family was by her side.
Joan was born in Bangor, Maine, on August 15, 1928. She was the daughter of Louise T. Littlefield and John Roland Littlefield. Joan went through the Brewer school system with the exception of high schools years in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she stayed with her grandmother, Florence Thomas. When living in Brewer she had a lively upbringing in the family home which also housed the office of her grandfather, Dr. Thomas.
After graduating from high school, Joan went on to the University of Maine in Orono. She graduated in three and a half years with high honors, having majored in home economics and minored in horticulture. The home economics degree led to a job with the Extension Service in Houlton, Maine. While working in Aroostook County she met Warren Horton who was a Professor at the University of Maine in Presque Isle. Joan moved to Presque Isle where she spent the rest of her career as a teacher. She taught Quantity Foods at Presque Isle High School. She often remarked that she couldn’t believe she was paid to do something that she loved so much. While teaching about food, she simultaneously wrote a long running cooking column for the local newspaper, The Star Herald. Her column was called Family Fare and was well received. Joan was also a member of AAUW and actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce Christmas box program.
Before Facebook she had an early iteration in a family newspaper that she would send out regularly to family members called The Horton Herald. She also loved to demonstrate spinning yarn at local fairs and historical societies.
After Warren died, Joan retired and left Presque Isle. She purchased a home in Southwest Harbor to be near her grandchildren. In addition to spending time on Mount Desert there was a family home in Sedgwick where the family has gathered for over 50 years. After the grandchildren were older she was able to spend the winters in Ormond Beach, Florida. She greatly enjoyed trips with family members to England, Scotland, France, Wales, and Iceland.
Joan was always willing to share her expertise in so many creative pursuits with anyone.
She is survived by her son, John A.B. Horton and his wife, Janice, of Bass Harbor, Maine; and her daughter, Margaret H. Jones and her husband, Edward Jones, of Belfast, Maine. Her grandchildren include Maggie Jones Knox of White Plains, New York; Macy Horton of Phoenix, Arizona; Samuel Warren Estey of Ellsworth, Maine; Lily Horton of San Fransisco, California; and Luke Horton of Bass Harbor, Maine.
Joan was predeceased by her daughter, Katherine Estey of Ellsworth, Maine.
If desired, material gifts may be made to the Casementswinter residence of John D. Rockefeller in Ormond Beach, Florida. Joan was a docent during her winters in Florida and thoroughly enjoyed guiding people through the home.
“She starts she moves she seems to feel the thrill of life upon her keel”
