Joyce M. Fowler

AUGUSTA – Joyce M. Fowler, 82, our beloved and cherished Mum and Mimi, of Augusta, died early Monday morning, Nov. 25, 2024, in Augusta, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Gardiner, on Aug. 26, 1942, the daughter and only child of Cecil and Madeline (Washburn) Ivey.

Our Mum and Mimi, Joyce grew up in Manchester and attended Cony High School in Augusta where she played trumpet in the marching band. During high school, she worked at Doc’s lunch in Augusta where she met her husband and our Dad/Pa, Dick, who operated the Flying A Station next door. Mum/Mimi and Dad/Pa were married on Sept. 9, 1959, at the Old South Congregational Church in Augusta.

In the 1960s and 1970s Mum/Mimi worked at the paper mill in Augusta and Hallowell Shoe Company on the Whitten Road in Augusta.

In the 1980s and 1990s Mimi lovingly took care of her three daughters’ children and her grandchildren, Heather and Joshua, Nicole, and Ethan, Brittany and Ian, during her daughters’ working hours and they all enjoyed many fun and memorable adventures with their Mimi.

For the last 25 years, Mum/Mimi worked in the bakery at Shaw’s in Augusta where she absolutely loved her job and her co-workers who became her second family.

Joyce was predeceased in 2010 by her loving husband Richard E. Fowler Sr. “Dick” whom she was married to for 50 years; and in 2016 by her grandson, Joshua Varnum.

She is survived by three daughters, Pamela Fowler of Augusta, Karen Varnum of Augusta and Debra Cates (Bruce) of Sidney, two sons, Richard E. Fowler, Jr. of Augusta and Scott Fowler (Laurie) of Sidney; eight grandchildren, Heather Varnum, Nicole Pierce, Ethan Cates Morrison (Anthony), Brittany Cates, Ian Cates, Richard E. Fowler, III, Tamran Quirion (Jeff), and Branden Fowler (Nikki); two step-grandchildren, Alex Cates and Felicia Cates Baker; and 17 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her loving beagle, Tori, her constant companion for the last eight years.

Family was everything to our Mum and Mimi and she will forever live on in all of us, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be forever loved and cherished. Thank you for all the love you gave us and everything you did for all of us, Mum and Mimi. We love you forever.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful nurses on 2 West at MaineGeneral in Augusta for their compassionate care during Mum/Mimi’s last two days.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, where a funeral will take place on Friday, Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at 12 p.m. next to her loving husband, Dick, at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mount Vernon Rd., Augusta.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 1 Church St., Augusta. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home website, http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.