AUGUSTA – Joan Marie (McNair) Colford, a longtime resident of Augusta, passed away unexpectedly Dec. 29, 2021, at Sedgewood Commons longterm care facility in Falmouth. She was born in Cranston, R.I., on Feb. 9, 1933, the daughter of Robert E. McNair and Agnes M. (Powers) McNair.

Joan attended elementary school in Cranston and later graduated from Deering High School in Portland. She went on to graduate from Johnson and Wales Business School in Providence and, in her 50s, earned an associate degree from the University of Maine in Augusta.

Before her children were born, Joan worked at Central Maine Power as a stenographer and, once the girls were grown, worked for many small businesses as a bookkeeper in the Augusta area. She later retired after 10 years of service at the State House as the Legislative Clerk for the Transportation Committee.

She was a communicant of St. Michael Parish at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, supporting many ministries in the church and holding bible studies in her home. She received great consolation in attending retreats and especially retreats at the Gonzaga Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Mass.

Joan was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, John “Jock” Colford, as well as her parents and step-parents. She is survived by her three daughters: Susan Colford of Harwich, Mass., Katharine Colford of Augusta and Margaret Colford of Portland; her brothers: Robert McNair, Jr. of Sebastian, Fla., Jack Lothridge of Estero, FL and James Lothridge (Terese) of Culpeper, Va.; her sisters-in-law: Jeannette Garand (Ben) of Augusta, Anita Colford (Gwynneth) of Phippsburg and Ida Willis (Bill) of Clarksville, Tenn., along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Joan retained her sense of humor and love of Irish songs, which she and her brother Bob would break out singing unexpectedly at any family gathering. She loved trips to the coast, traveling and meeting new people and especially relished the many years she and Jock spent summers at Head Beach in Small Point, as well as annual trips to Ogunquit to celebrate wedding anniversaries with her brother and sister-in-law. She cherished the great friends she made in the Mayfair neighborhood where she and Jock lived for 60 years.

Funeral services will be held at a later date followed by burial at Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery with her husband.

Arrangements are under the care of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association,

Maine Chapter,

383 US Route One,

Suite 2C,

Scarborough, ME, 04074

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