WILTON – Pamela Harnden, 69, died late Saturday evening at her home. She was born August 28, 1955, in Boston, Mass., the oldest daughter of Margaret and Carroll Proctor.

Pam moved to Weld, Maine when she was 15 and discovered her love for agriculture on the small family farm. She was a graduate of Mount Blue High School in June of 1973 then moved on to attend the University of Maine at Orono where she finished in May of 1978 with a degree in Animal and Vet Sciences. Pam then worked as a Vet Tech, before running the Harnden’s Harvest Hutch in Wilton and the family apple orchard for over 20 years, as well as helping run the Wilton blueberry fields.

For the past 13 years Pam has been a journalist for local newspapers, including the Franklin Journal, Livermore Falls Advertiser, Sun Journal, Kennebec Journal and heading up the “Livermore Falls Now” weekly newsletter. Pam has written over 5,000 stories from all over the area covering town and school board meetings, community events, business openings, school activities and sporting events. If there was an event going on, big or small, you more than likely would see Pam there covering it. Her focus was to preserve community traditions and make sure even small town events felt appreciated and seen.

Over the years Pam has been involved with numerous different community groups and organizations including Franklin County and Maine Farm Bureau, Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District, Franklin County 4-H, Eastern Star in New Sharon, Both Weld and Wilton Congregational Churches, Western Foothills Band (formerly known as the Old Crow Indian band), and Ag Day at Farmington Fair, to name just a few.

When Pam was not working her passions in life included gardening (especially flowers), cooking, baking, and spending time with her family, of which was her biggest joy. She loved sharing her vast knowledge of agriculture, gardening, community history and so much more, as well as, teaching the grandkids to cook and bake, passing on recipes that she had been making for years.

Pam is survived by her mother, Margaret Proctor, of Wilton; children: Megan and Troy Nelson of Stoneham, Danielle and Chris Hyde of Vienna and Paul and Jessi Harnden of North Jay;. grandchildren, Benjamin and Annabelle of Stoneham, Zoey and Ryker of Vienna, and Isabel, Jailinn, Stanley, Emma, Rylie, and Alana of North Jay; sister, Penny Gray, and nephew, Jim Proctor, of Wilton; as well as, several other children who were very special to her, extended family and many other people, too numerous to name, that she was close to and considered family.

A Public Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 20, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. Private family interment will be at a later date.

Memories may be shared in her Book of Memories at http://www.wilesrc.com. Wiles Remembrance Center is honored to be caring for services.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be considered to:

the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District

107 Park St. Suite 2

Farmington, ME 04938