Ruth Lucinda Reed

JACKMAN -- Ruth Lucinda (Sterling) Reed, 89, passed away at Jackman Region Health Center on June 18, 2009.

She was born Oct. 29, 1919, in Jackman, the daughter of John Belmont and Grace (Newton) Sterling. She attended schools in New Canaan, Conn., and graduated from Jackman High School. She was married in 1935 to George "Ed" Reed.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Ed, on Jan. 1, 1997; one brother, Robert Sterling; one sister, Margaret Sterling Field; and one great-great-grandchild, Braden Lacasse.

She is survived by one sister, Hope Sterling Henderson Earley of Brownville Junction; one daughter, Sally (Reed) Hughey of Moose River; one son, Sterling "Bill" Reed and his wife, Catherine, of Moose River; six grandchildren, Lucinda Lacasse and her husband, Allen, Carolyn Talpey and her husband, Leslie, and Mary Hughey of Jackman, George Reed II and his wife, Tammy, of Anson, Rhonda McNally and her husband, Jay, of Moose River, and Megan Reed of Moose River. She also is survived by many nieces and nephews, including a special nephew, Robert Henderson and his wife, Rose, of Bingham.

Ruth is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren, Joanne Fortier and her husband, Boyd, Thad Lacasse and his wife, Janice, of Jackman, Sara Feeney and her husband, Stuart, of Rangeley, Lucas Talpey of Jackman, Andrew Rancourt and Leah of Jackman, Donna Frigon and her husband, Jereme, of Moose River, Jessica Burris and her husband, Chaselor, of Anson, Charles Reed of Hookset, N.H., and Dana and Dylan McNally of Moose River, as well as 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Ruth worked for the Postal Service in Jackman and Portland for 23 years. She was a member of the Moose River School Committee from 1942 until 1966 and coached the girl's basketball team for several years. In 1983, she received the "Outstanding Citizen Award" from the Chamber of Commerce for her involvement in civic and church affairs.

She received an associate's degree from the University of Maine at Farmington in 1987, graduating magna cum laude. She also worked for VISTA, wrote for the local paper, and helped establish a historical society in Jackman.

She was a member of the Moose River Congregational UCC Church, the Jackman Library Association, the Jackman/Moose River Historical Society, the Mayflower Society, the Eunice Farnsworth-Ruth Heald Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution and the Order of the Eastern Star.

The family thanks the staff at Jackman Region Health Center for the loving care given to Ruth while she was a resident there.

A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27 at Moose River Congregational Church UCC, Jackman, with Pastor Judith Clark officiating. Interment will follow at Whipple Cemetery Jackman. Arrangements are by Giberson Funeral Home, 18 River St., Bingham.