WILTON – Joleen Reed Seaward, 70, of Wilton died quietly in the early hours of Sept. 2, after a brave fight against cancer. As she had wished, she died at her home in Wilton surrounded by family.

She was born in Roxbury, on July 10, 1936, the youngest child of Joseph Stillman Reed and Lilla Edna Reed (Morse). She was a member of the graduating class of 1953 from Stephens High School in Rumford.

She graduated from Farmington State Teachers College in 1957, with a bachelor’s degree in education.

As “Miss Reed,” she began her teaching career on Great Cranbury Island, followed by brief tenures in Limestone and Lewiston. She returned to Oxford County to teach at Andover and then Mexico junior high schools.

She took an extended break from teaching, when she moved to Flagstaff, Ariz., and married her husband, Carl Albert Seaward Jr. In the spring of 1981, she returned to Maine from Parks, Ariz., with her family. She resumed her teaching as “Mrs. Seaward (Mrs. C.)” at St. Athanasius-St. John School in Rumford, where she taught seventh and eighth grades, until her retirement in 1991.

She was proud to be a 50-year member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. She held many chapter and national offices including, past chapter regent in both the Amarriscoggin (Rumford) and Coconio (Flagstaff, Ariz.) Chapters. She was also a distinguished member of the Order of Eastern Star, (Maine and Arizona), White Shrine of Jerusalem and Order of the Amaranth.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Carl Albert Seaward Jr. of Wilton; her son, Kristopher Kent Knapp of Town Creek, Ala., son, Joseph Karl and wife, Rebecca Lynn Seaward (August), of Wilton; stepdaughter, Marjorie Dianne (Seaward) and husband, Benjamin Stephen McCollister, of Canton Point; her greatly loved and cherished grandchildren, Katie Joleen McPherson, Rebecca Marjean McPherson and her fiancé, Jeremey McLoed, Sonny Alan McPherson, Benjamin Stephen McCollister, Holt Stephen McCollister, Khristian Anthony Seaward, Corrina Marie Seaward and Makenzie Skye Seaward; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins across the country.

She was predeceased by her father and mother, elder sister, Kathleen Reed Knapp, as well as her infant daughter, Kristeen, all of Roxbury.

She wanted to thank all of those friends and family that attended her special “July Celebration.” Also, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, especially her very special friend, Patty Ann Douglas.