Jean Damaris Winter Ferris

KINGFIELD – Jean Damaris Winter Ferris passed away peacefully on November 2, 2021. She was 91-years old. Jean was born March 22, 1930, at home in Kingfield, Maine. She was the daughter of Emil E. Winter and Roxy Dunton Winter, co-owners of H.G. Winter and Sons Manufacturing in Kingfield. The family-owned wood-turning mill specialized in making rolling pins, pepper mills, yo-yos and many other wooden products. Jean grew up and lived most of her life in Kingfield, in the home originally built by her grandparents, H.G. And Erma Winter. She raised her own family in the same house, and her beloved grandchildren are the fifth generation of family members who consider the Kingfield property to be “home.”Jean attended Kingfield schools, graduating from Kingfield High School in 1948. Jean then matriculated to LaSalle College in Newton, Massachusetts before transferring to the University of Maine at Orono. She lived and worked in Portland, Maine for several years after college, before returning to Kingfield upon accepting a secretarial/management position at H.G. Winter & Sons. Eventually, as one of its principal owners, she would go on to fill several roles for the company including being a member of its Board of Directors and treasurer.In 1960, Jean married the love of her life, Charles G. Ferris, of Madison, Maine. He was a World War II Veteran and a Merchant Marine. Jean and Charlie had two children: Marla Damaris Ferris, born in 1961 and Charles T. Ferris, born in 1966. Rosemary Ferris, born in 1948, the daughter of Charles G Ferris from a previous marriage, joined the family in Kingfield in 1962.When announcing their engagement, neither Jean’s nor Charlie’s churches (Baptist and Catholic, respectively) would accept their marriage vows. At that time, it was considered taboo to marry outside one’s church, and Jean and Charlie thought such an arbitrary prohibition was utter nonsense. Thus, they were married in a civil ceremony by a Justice of the Peace, and settled into a spectacularly loving marriage. They raised three happy and successful children, all of whom earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. All three basked in the unconditional love provided by Jean and Charlie. Jean and her husband were active in their community and had several businesses, including Ferris Market in Kingfield (now Anni’s Market), Ferris Realty, and Ferris Mobile Home Park in Madison, Maine.Jean was an extremely active mother. She was always willing to serve as a chaperone for her children’s activities and taught them the importance of kindness, empathy, and proper manners. Jean was the constant “room-mother” at school and showered her children’s friends and classmates with care and attention. She was always willing to listen, advise and comfort when approached by children (or adults) dealing with problems at home, school, or work. She had a gigantic heart. She taught her children to be good neighbors, to defend the bullied and assist the less fortunate. She was our rock.Jean loved to travel, and she loved having her children, and eventually her grandchildren, along for the ride. Jean would frequently take her family on trips, whether it was simply camping, or treks to Hampton Beach, or myriad adventures exploring Canada, New England, Boston, and New York. When her children were older, Jean traveled with them to much more exotic locales, such as the desert southwest, the Caribbean, Mexico, Paris, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Morocco. She was a great travel companion, and never lost her sense of adventure and fun. She loved learning about different cultures and couldn’t walk or drive past a museum without being consumed with a desire to enter. Jean was a wonderful Aunt to her nieces and nephews. She was the consummate grandmother. She had a near-constant twinkle in her eye. She showered those she loved with care and kindness. Holiday dinners at the family home in Kingfield were the stuff of legend, the measure by which all future feasts will be unfairly judged. She was a fantastic cook. She lovedJean was independent and extremely well-informed. She followed her conscience and taught her children to think critically and to always attempt to do the right thing. She taught them to be considerate. She taught them the importance of education, and the absolute necessity of being good neighbors and proactive citizens.Jean had an elegant manor of deportment. She always graced the room with dignity and class. She had a wonderful sense of adventure and loved being with people. She was an excellent companion and enjoyed the beauty in the simple things around her. She was a lovely person; she will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know and love her. Jean is predeceased by her parents; her husband Charles G. Ferris; her brothers Emil E. Winter, II, and David S. Winter; her son-in-law Carl H. Lane; her beloved daughter Marla D. Ferris; nephews Robert Ferris, Michael Paul Massad, David Massad; niece, Jean Teresa Massad Aldridge; and her special friends Evangeline Jordan and Geraldine Mecurio. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles T. Ferris and Cassie Julia-Ferris, of Waterville, Maine; her daughter Rosemary Ferris Lane, of Richboro, PA; her grandchildren, Meghan Lane-Danz and her husband Ben Danz, of Philadelphia, PA, Charles Arthur Ferris and Sophia Damaris Ferris, both of Waterville, Maine; nieces Libby Winter, of Farmington, Maine, Mary-Ellen Winter Cutler, of Falmouth, Maine, Kelly Winter Pickering, of Altamont, NY, Rosemary Winter, of Kingfield, Maine, Greta Winter-Jarvinen, of Duluth, MN, Amy Ferris, of Farmington, Maine, Melissa Ferris, of Waterville, Maine, Lori Ferris Huff, of South Portland, Maine, Anne Ferris Delano, of Madison, Maine, Lindo-Jo Ferris Andrews, of Embden, Maine, Becky Ferris Eldridge, of Norridgewock, Maine, Julie Ferris Smith, of Corrina, Maine, Martha Ferris Robbins, of Norridgewock, Maine, Patricia Ann Smith of Warm Springs Oregon, and Joyce Marie Massad of Sacramento CA. ; nephews John F. Winter, of Kingfield, Maine, Emil J. Winter, and wife Beth, of Camden, Maine, Stephen Winter and wife Melinda of Windham, Maine, Tyler Winter, of Lincolnville, Maine, Joseph Ferris and wife Michelle, of China, Maine, Anthony Ferris, of Lewiston, Maine, and Joel Ferris of Kennebunk, Maine; and many grand nieces and nephews and cousins. She is also survived by very special friends Nancy Dykstra, of Winthrop, Maine, Audrey Tague and Jane Deeley, of Kingfield, Maine, and Adelia Myers, of Pennsylvania.Special thanks are extended to Niece Melissa Ferris, who was of invaluable assistance providing extraordinary love and care for Jean during her last weeks.A Celebration of Life will be held for Jean in the spring. Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville, Maine. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toWebster Public Library,22 Depot Street,Kingfield, Maine 04947

Jean Damaris Winter Ferris