WINTHROP – Joan (Taylor) McGuire, 91, peacefully departed this world on Dec. 26, 2023. Joan Abbott Taylor was born Feb.18, 1932 at home in Albion, Maine, to A. Burbank and Doris (Abbott) Taylor. She was the second of three daughters.

Joan spent much of her youth on the Abbott family farm. This gave her a lifelong love of animals, particularly farm animals. When she was 8 years old her family moved to Augusta. She graduated from Cony High School, class of 1950.

Joan first worked (and lived) cleaning cabins on China Lake at 14 years old. As a teen she was a nanny for a family that summered at Maranacook Lodge. As an adult she worked in retail and then for the State of Maine. She was a stay at home mom while her children were young. She returned to work for the State of Maine, as a data processor for DHHS until her retirement.

Joan met her husband, Richard (Dick) McGuire, in high school. When Dick returned from service in WWII, he, along with many vets, re-enrolled at Cony High School. Through this twist of fate he met the younger, Joan Taylor, his “Jobird.” They were married Sept. 23, 1950. They bought a home in East Winthrop and raised their family there, on Cobbossee Lake. Joan spent endless summer days on lifeguard duty as her four girls swam.

Throughout her life Joan was an involved community member. As her children grew she supported their activities as a Girl Scout Leader, a member of the PTA and the Winthrop Music Boosters, and was a volunteer for the March of Dimes. After retiring she volunteered for the Augusta Food Bank and at Red Cross blood drives for many years. She loved animals and always walked in the local Pup Strut. She was a member of American Legion Post 2 Auxiliary, Red Hats Society and a local Senior Social group. She was a champion bowler and bowled weekly into her 80s. Joan loved to find a bargain and always stopped for a lawn sale. She once went to a lawn sale and came home with a car! When she wasn’t busy with one of her many activities, Joan was an avid reader and always followed the New England sports teams.

She enjoyed traveling with her husband Dick. His involvement with Babe Ruth baseball brought them all over New England. They enjoyed Sunday drives around northern Maine as much as St. Patrick’s Day in Southie. She also visited Europe, but her favorite trip was to Ireland. After Dick’s passing Joan traveled with friends and enjoyed girls’ trips to the Caribbean, Florida and to a camp on a Maine lake.

Joan is survived by her daughter Jane and husband Kenton Varney of Gray; her daughter Joyce and husband Mark Hopkins of Winthrop, their three sons, Ross Hopkins and partner Emily Kaplan of Augusta, Cale Hopkins and fiance Brittany Smith of Neptune, NJ, and Chase Hopkins of Winthrop; her daughter Shayne and husband Tom Plourde of Tucson, Ariz., their two sons Shawn Plourde of Denver, Colo. and Sam Plourde and partner Emily Dalton of Tucson, Ariz.; and daughter Molly McGuire and partner John McCarthy of Scarborough, and her daughter Carly Rogers of Los Angeles, Calif.

The last one of her generation of both the McGuire and Taylor clans, Joan is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. She was tickled to hear from many on the event of her 90th birthday.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard “Dick” McGuire; her parents Burbank and Doris Taylor; her sister, Beverly Malcolm and brother-in-law Howard Malcolm; and sister Judy Taylor.

The McGuire family would like to thank the caregivers of The Woodlands and the Heritage Rehabilitation and Living Center. We appreciate all that you did for our mother.

Relatives and friends may visit on Thursday, Jan. 4, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Knowlton-Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta. A funeral service will follow at 3:00. Burial will take place at a later date.

Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers,

Joan would appreciate donations being made to:

the Kennebec Valley Humane Society or:

The Augusta Food Bank



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