Joan Adams Harris

CASTINE - Joan Adams Harris passed away Thursday, April 22, 2010, in the company of many loved ones at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital. Joan was born July 21, 1942, in Hobe Sound, Fla., the youngest daughter of Francis Fiske Adams and Alice McDonald Adams. She spent her youth in Hobe Sound and later lived in Massachusetts and New York. Joan lived her last 25 years in Castine, where she began spending summers in the early 1980s with her former husband, Ralph Clay Harris; and their son, Matthew Adams Harris. Joan volunteered at Gratitude House, West Palm Beach, Fla., where she discovered her gift for reaching suffering addicts and helping them find peace in their lives. She later attended Boston University and went on to finish her associate of science degree in human services at the University of Maine, Orono. She spent several years inspiring her colleagues and clients working at Open Door Recovery Center, Ellsworth. Joan was recently nominated by her colleagues and will be receiving special recognition for her work in recovery at the Silver Tea to be held at the Governor's Mansion in May. Although Joan was incredibly devoted to her career as a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor, she never faltered as a role model and loving mother to her talented and ambitious son, Matthew. Joan was a model friend and member of the community and was known to always be wearing a wide smile and blessing all with her infectious laugh. She will be dearly missed and always in the loving thoughts of those fortunate enough to have known her. Joan was dearly loved by her siblings, Mary Stevens, Helen Flemming and Bud Adams; her son and granddaughter, Matthew and Joselyn Harris; and her dog, Quincy Adams. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. April 29 at St. Joseph's Church, Ellsworth. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to Open Door/Hill House, P.O. Box 958, Ellsworth, ME 04605 and/or made at www.freethekids.org.