Joyce May Morgan
BETHEL – Joyce May Morgan, 92, of Bethel, Maine, died on Jan. 1, 2023, at Hospice House of Androscoggin in Auburn with her family by her side.
She was born in Rumford on May 9, 1930. She was the daughter of Pearl and Byron Crossland of Mexico, Maine. She was raised with her four siblings, Lloyd, Burton, Fern and Gail on Hillcrest Dairy Farm on Thompson Hill. She was eternally grateful for her hardworking and humble upbringing. Along with her siblings, she co-authored two volumes of books titled “Once Upon A Farm” to pay tribute.
She attended school in Mexico, graduating from Mexico High School in 1947. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Orono in 1951. After graduating, she taught at Andover High School for several years. She married Frank Morgan on June 19, 1955, and lived in Andover. After starting a family of three girls, and the closing of Andover High School, she earned her elementary teaching degree. She returned to the classroom at Andover Elementary School where she taught for over 20 years until retiring in 1988.
In 1978 she returned to the farm where she spent many years caring for her mother and tending to her gardens, fields, and apple orchards. She moved to Bethel in 2016 where she continued to enjoy gardening and landscaping her newly built home. Other hobbies included wood carving, sewing, skiing, reading, and simply enjoying nature.
She is survived by two daughters, Donna and her husband, Donald Leveille, of Shelburne, New Hampshire and Claire and her husband, Barry Carver of Bethel; sisters, Fern Stearns of Hallowell, and Gail Parent of Hanover; grandchildren, Liza Fyrberg, Forest Fyrberg, Shannon Klein, Justine Brooks, and Morgan LeClair; Stepgrandchildren, Donna Grant, Michelle Kwak, and Jill Stephenson; numerous great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, Timothy Parent, Lisa Whitis, James Parent, Sarah Beliveau, Joyce Rochefort, Kathleen Friday, David Stearns, Laurie Sproul, Alan Stearns, Garry Crossland and Roger Crossland. She will be remembered by special friends the Akers and the Rickers.
She was a devoted sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend. She will be remembered as an educator and storyteller. Education was the foundation of who she was in and out of the classroom. She had an impact on so many lives. She had an impeccable memory and always had fond stories of her students at Andover Elementary School. She enjoyed spending time in her gardens and visiting with friends and family on her sun porch – she always had a good story or life lesson to share.
She was predeceased by her brothers Lloyd Crossland and Burton Crossland, husband Frank, and daughter, Faith.
A celebration of life will take place on Jan. 14, 2023, at 1 p.m., at the Andover Congregational Church.
Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Services 37 Vernon St. Bethel. To make an online condolence please visit http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Andover Education Fund PO Box 32, Andover, ME 04216 or online at
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