1950 – 2003

MEXICO – Sheila A. Howard-Kierstead, 53, died Monday, July 21, at her residence on Roxbury Road.

She was born in Rumford, on May 2, 1950, a daughter of Celand Weeks and Grace (Barnett) Weeks Horne, graduated from Mexico High School Class of 1968 and has taken classes in nutrition from CMVTI in Auburn, the University of Maine at Orono and Rumford, and SMVTI in So. Portland and had received her Dietary Managers Certificate.

She had worked at SAD 43 for over 17 years as a baker and also at Rumford Community Home for 10 years as a cook and baker. She was a member of the Rumford Baptist Church, Oozalluc Temple 88, Pythian Sisters, American Food Service Association, Maine Food Service Association and the AFSCME Union.

She loved going to camp in Eustis to be with the birds and wild life. She enjoyed her cats “Midnight and Smokey” and her dog “Ba”. She loved all of her children in her life, but the day her own grandson was born, that was the best thing in her life.

She will be missed by many people that knew her. She drove for Community Concepts for the last years and received the “Going the Extra Mile Award” in 2002. She loved all the clients she drove. She married her companion of 12 years, Bailey “Bill” Kierstead, in Rumford, on Feb. 6, 2000, who survives of Mexico.

Other survivors include a son, Robert H. Howard of Mexico; sisters, Lilla Mae Thomas of Mexico and Charlotte L. Hotham of St. Albans, Vt.; a grandson, Thomas H. Howard of Dixmont; several nieces and nephews; three stepdaughters, Theresa Joy and husband John of Buxton and their children, Andrea and Margaret, Kimberley Jordan and husband John of Cornish and their children, Amanda and Josh, Cynthia Babb and husband Troy of New Gloucester and children, Adam a U.S. Marine Cpl., Elizabeth, Travis and Zeth; and a good friend to the very end, Arlene Thibeau of Mexico.