FARMINGTON – Jill was born on May 27, 1940. Her story began in a small house on Orchard Street in Farmington. The youngest of three girls born to Rock and Polly Flint, Jill was a precocious child full of life. On many occasions Jill would pull her little red wagon to town. One day she might be collecting bottles, another day selling her father’s old war bonds. Inevitably her time in town would end when Mickey or another shopkeeper would call Polly, and Jill would have to make the long walk up the hill to home.

Jill’s younger days were full of joy playing in the Bonney Woods with her sisters Judy and Jolene or her cousin Linda, but they were not without grief. The girls lost their father at a very young age. What would become Jill’s hallmark began to show through – her incredible resilience and positive attitude were forming. This would serve her well to the end.

As Jill grew older it was clear she was blessed with a natural athletic ability. She excelled at many sports, but particularly ski racing and field hockey. Jill won many races as a junior skier and loved competing against her best friend Suzanne Luce. They alternated victories all through junior racing. Jill then went on to race and play field hockey at the University of New Hampshire. Her accomplishments were impressive, yet she would never tell you that. Her humility was endearing. Jill was on a Hall of Fame ski team at UNH and she was named the best female athlete at the University. She played field hockey for the state of New Hampshire into her late twenties. She always said her proudest moment in athletics was placing 8th in the Junior Nationals slalom in Reno, Nevada against women from all over North America. She graced the cover of Skier magazine and was featured in “Faces in the Crowd” in Sports Illustrated. When her competitive sports career ended, Jill moved to golf and was an outstanding player. She loved the sport and played into her seventies. She was club champion at Wilson Lake and shot 76 at Bangor Municipal in a ladies state tournament.

After UNH, Jill married John Christie and had two sons, JB (James) and Flint. Life in the ski business was her next adventure. The couple began at Sugarloaf where Jill was regularly featured on Bud Leavitt’s television program. From there they went to Mount Snow with children in tow. Eventually they ended up at Saddleback in the early ’70s. The ski business had its ups and downs in that era, but it afforded Jill the opportunity to meet many people and make many friends. She was able to travel to Europe to ski and taught many young children the wonderful sport. After Saddleback Jill’s positivity would be tested again. Jill found herself on her own with the boys and made the move to Farmington, her beloved home for the rest of her days.

Jill was a social worker by trade but when she moved to Farmington she changed her direction and began working at Franklin Savings Bank. This would be a perfect profession for Jill. Very soon she knew everyone in town, and they all knew her. Perhaps it was her trademark white hair, but Jill couldn’t walk through town without many a wave and honk and her three-hour trips to Hannaford were infamous.

Jill remained her positive energetic self and then in 1980 life threw an amazing curveball. She met Arthur Perry, the love of her life. They were married soon after and began a journey together that many would deem a fairytale. Art and Jill were inseparable for more than 32 years. She would just simply describe him as her person, and she was his “Jilly”. They traveled together, visited family and friends often, and were integral parts of the community. Arthur passed in 2012 and this was a hard time for Jill. But as you know by now, she never lost her positive attitude. Many blessings were still to come.

Jill was an active member in the community. After retirement from the bank, she decided that a quiet lifestyle was not for her and quickly took a job at the front desk of Tri County Mental Health. She worked there for almost a decade and loved every minute of it. Jill was a United Way member, a Friend of the Pierce House, a board member at the Farmington Public Library, and a volunteer at the Care and Share Food Closet. She always brought joy and laughter to meetings and was well-liked and respected by her colleagues.

In her later years Jill filled her days with her grandchildren. She always loved visits from JB’s daughters, Madeline and Isabelle. She enjoyed having Flint and his wife Christina’s children, Alexander, Davis, and Alice, over to read or go for a car ride together. Going to Grammie Jill’s for a “Dump Day” visit was a highlight of every weekend for the boys. Jill also had a lovely group of friends. She regularly met with the class of ‘58 and the other ladies she met with monthly were referred to as the “Blah Blahs” for obvious reasons.

Jill’s story came to a peaceful end on Oct. 17, 2022, at the age of 82, but her positive energy, love of life, smile and laugh will live on in the memories of her beloved family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial visitation on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 4-7 p.m., at the Wiles Remembrance Center,137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday morning, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m., from the center. PRIVATE family burial at Fairview Cemetery, Farmington.

Tributes and condolences may be share in her Book of Memories at http://www.wilesrc.com.

In keeping with her great love of skiing and her community, remembrance gifts are suggested to Titcomb Mountain Farmington Ski Club (General Fund)

PO Box 138

West Farmington, ME 04938

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