PHILLIPS — Joanne Richard passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Oct. 17 in the home she lived in for nearly 50 years. She was 74 years old.

Born on Sept. 1, 1935 she was the eldest daughter of Roy and Arlene (Tufts) Haines. She was educated in the schools of Strong Maine and graduated as the salutatorian of her class in 1953.

In 1955 she met the man of her dreams, Lewis Richard, after having chased him down the road to ask for a dance. They were married on Nov. 26, 1955 and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2005. Together they had five children, Shelley, Darlene, Jeffrey, Bonnie and Kimberley.

An avid cribbage player and lover of birds, flowers and holidays, Joanne was known for her beautiful flower gardens in the summer and her unique style of decorating her house for every single holiday.

She served as the secretary/treasurer for the Strong Alumni Association for over 12 years as well as the secretary/treasurer for the Phillips Chamber of Commerce for over 10. She was the secretary/treasurer for the Democratic Party and a diligent public servant serving as an elections poll worker for over 30 years.

Most certainly the greatest pride and joys of “Nana’s” life were her five grandchildren, Aaron and Nathan Kinney, Serena Richard, Jordan Richard and Trevor Dolbier.

Joanne is survived by her husband of 54 years, Lewis Richard; daughter, Shelley Richard and her daughter, Serena Richard, of Phillips; daughter, Darlene Richard and her friends, Marie Pineau and Sue Peters of Wilton; son,

Jeffrey Richard and his wife, Mary Sue, and their son, Jordan, of Rangeley; daughter, Bonnie Kinney and her husband, Eric, and their sons, Aaron and Nathan, of Phillips; and daughter Kimberley Dolbier and her husband, Noel, and their son, Trevor, of Rangeley; a sister, whom she considered her own daughter, Vicki Cook and her family of Phillips; as well as sister, Betty Haines of Farmington; sisters-in-law Winona Davenport and Marjorie Richard, both of Phillips; and Jennie Richard of Mexico; brother-in-law, Rodney Richard of Rangeley; and many special nieces and nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents, Roy and Arlene Haines; a sister, Judith White; and her very special “mother,” Helen Newell.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Phillips Shared Ministry in Phillips, with burial to follow at the Miles Square Cemetery in Avon.

As Joanne was passionate about reading, the

family asks that anyone wishing to make a donation in her name should do so to the Phillips Public Library at PO Box O, Phillips ME 04966.