NEWPORT – Joyce Eileen (Holman) Pepin, 78, went to be with our Lord on June 10, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born Jan. 22, 1931, in Rumford, a daughter of Harold and Agnes (Harlow) Holman. She was a Mayflower descendant of Richard Warren and was a descendant of Col. Jonathan Holman, founder of Dixfield, (formerly named Holmanville).

She was a 1949 graduate of Dixfield High School and was selected the “All Around Female Student” for her participation in sports, music, drama, cheerleading and class/club leadership. She was salutatorian of her class and was crowned Queen of Dixfield High School’s first Winter Carnival.

She worked eight years as secretary at Timberlands, Inc. in Dixfield, one year in the office of Charles Crossland, assistant to the president of the University of Maine in Orono, served as town clerk and tax collector for the town of Newport for three years and was employed as a secretary-real estate salesperson at Pine Cone Realty in Newport, until her retirement.

She was a communicant of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Pittsfield. She had served as secretary of the Bishop’s Campaign, church typist, choir member, church lector, Sunday school teacher and superintendent C.C.D. teacher and co-coordinator.

She was involved as a PAL cheerleading coach, homeroom mother, Cub Scout leader, ballot clerk, substitute teacher, Dixfield Social Club member, secretary of the Dixfield High School Alumni Association, Little League assistant baseball coach, a Sesqui-Belle, volunteer for the Sebasticook Valley Community Center and president of the SAD 48 Music Boosters.

She was happiest when she had her family around her. The highlights of the year were Christmas, their annual camping trip to Papoose Pond Campground and Resort and Holman family reunions. She adored her grandchildren and shared many ties with them. She was a very thoughtful, loving and caring person and will be greatly missed by those lives she touched.

On Feb. 25, 1956, she married Paul Joseph Pepin, a former high school teacher and coach at Searsport, Newport and Nokomis Regional High schools.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Michael Pepin of Oakland and David Pepin and fiancée, Diane Whitmore, of Newport; two daughters, Cheryl and husband, Francis Gonzalez, of Newport and Sandra and husband, Brett Crosby, of Hermon; 11 grandchildren, Christopher and Jinger Pepin, Jeremy, Rachelle, Brianna and Kyle Pepin, Kerianne Neans, Nicholas, Anthony and Kristina Gonzalez and Andrew and Katie Jo Crosby; four great-grandchildren, Natalea and Silas Pepin, Faith Neans and baby boy, Pepin, due in July; a sister, Barbara Kendall of Brunswick; and many special nieces, nephews and friends.

She was predeceased by two sisters, Hazel Hardy and Sylvia Gordon; and five brothers, Kenneth, Clayton, Lauren, Harold Jr. and Elwood.