AUBURN – Ruth Janet (Stone) Pearse died peacefully on Feb. 26, at Clover Manor, with her daughters by her side.

She was born in Rockland, on Oct. 28, 1927, to Everett Raymond Stone and Beatrice Ellie (Lobley) Stone. She spent her early years with her family in North Haven. The remainder of her childhood was spent living with her aunt and uncle, Dorothy and Francis Frye and their children at Orchard Hill in Lincolnville. She graduated from Camden High School in 1946 and Maine General School of Nursing. She was working as an R.N. at the Camden Hospital, when she met her future husband, John Barrett Pearse.

She and John built a house that they shared for over 50 years. The household was part of a family farm and she supported that effort by canning and freezing what the gardens produced. She was especially proud of her cooking and baking expertise, using a cast iron wood stove. Family and friends would frequently enjoy quantities of cinnamon rolls, cakes or other lavish creations. She enjoyed sewing clothes for herself and her girls, as well as household items. Later when John began a poultry business, she was a partner in packing eggs, finishing quickly so she could attend a meeting or pursue some other activity.

She was a busy, energetic and creative spirit whose diverse interests and talents left a positive imprint on her community.

She was a devoted friend to many. Her contributions span a broad spectrum of community outreach, education and leadership development.

She was a founding member of the Hope RFD Club and organized the Fireman’s Frolic, a fundraising celebration for the Hope Fire Department.

She volunteered in several capacities to deliver services and support public health issues at the town and state level. She worked for the Head Start program to coordinate health programs and encourage parent involvement. She also served on the Human Rights Committee for the Knox County Coastal Workshop.

When her children were young, she led the Hope Golden Rule 4-H Club and later became actively involved in the local extension group. She especially loved working with the faculty and staff of the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension Service. During her career with extension, she held various volunteer leadership positions at the state and local level and attended several national meetings, where she met with members of Maine’s congressional delegation.

She was committed in her support of the creation of an affordable summer camp for Maine children and while president of the Knox-Lincoln Extension Association, she signed the lease that created the Tanglewood 4-H Camp in Lincolnville.

She joined the Senior Companion Program board and served a term as their president. She provided counsel, computer expertise and editing talents to support the establishment of Bloomings!, a nonprofit enterprise to support people with special needs. She enjoyed politics and several times served as a delegate at the Republican State Convention. She actively participated in the Hobbs and Fish Pond Association to protect the character of that natural resource.

She loved walks in the woods and to the family’s shore on Hobbs Pond. She accompanied John as a passenger on his snowmobile, motorcycle and airplane. In the 1980s, they traveled to Germany to visit her cousin, John Frye.

In her later years, as an outlet for her creative and artistic talents, she loved taking photographs of scenery, sunsets, flowers and cats.

She also had a mischievous side – assembling a clown wardrobe so she could perform in a number of local parades and other events. When a large tree trunk was moved next to the road in front of their house, she painted faces on the stumps and added hats that she changed to coincide with the season.

She is survived by her daughters, Catherine and husband, Scott Pease, of Old Town and Mary Pearse of Auburn; beloved grandchildren, Maureen and Andrew Pease; special cousins, Francis Frye, Martha Bickford, John Frye and Johanna Murtha; brother, Peter Polk; many nieces and nephews; other special family members and friends; as well as her very special cat, Angus.

Her husband, John and sister, Phyllis O’Neill Stone, predeceased her.