Janet “Jan” Reid Willis, 64, of Gorham passed away on February 5, 2017 at Maine Medical Center following a short but fierce fight with cancer.
She was born Dec. 1, 1952 in Cincinnati, OH, the daughter of the late William S. Reid and Ruth Bowman Reid. She was raised in Norristown, PA and attended University of Maine at Orono, where she met her husband of forty-three years, Paul. Jan taught English and coached field hockey in South Portland at both Memorial Middle School and the High School. During these years she helped create Stix Field Hockey Camp at University of Southern Maine, won a Class A State Championship, and created many lifelong friendships. Jan took great pride in her field hockey accomplishments, including being inducted into the Maine Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006, but perhaps took the most pleasure in attending more recent athletic events where she was able to watch the children of her former student-athletes play. Following her teaching career she joined the family business, Willis Real Estate, and enjoyed a thirty-year career helping people with their housing needs. She was a proud member of the Portland Board of Realtors. Jan was gifted at establishing and maintaining relationships, and it was not uncommon for her clients to turn into treasured friends. Similarly, she was a longtime member of First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham and developed innumerable friendships through her service as a deacon and on multiple committees within the church. Jan had a zest for life, whether it be walking with friends, participating in multiple book clubs, playing year-round tennis, or supporting Gorham sports teams, and she was a relentless opponent at the pinochle table. Jan loved to travel and explore new parts of the world and also felt a deep connection to the Damariscotta/Pemaquid Point area, where she relived many happy childhood memories each summer. Jan was a loving and giving woman who enjoyed talking and sharing stories with new friends and old, whether it was on her screened-in porch, at a church dinner, or on a cable car in San Francisco. She was unwavering in her commitment to writing birthday cards and thank you notes. She liked her bacon extra crispy, her M&Ms blue, and her wine white and chilled, preferably from the Marlborough region of New Zealand.
Jan is survived by her loving husband, Paul and her two greatest accomplishments, her children: David, of Gorham; and Jen Willis and wife Sarah Catlin, and Jan’s greatest joy, her grandson, Will, of Bethlehem, NH; her sister Joan Hill and husband Jay of Safety Harbor, FL; her brother William Reid and wife Ruth of Temecula, CA; and her numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their children.
The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Maine Medical Partners – Gynecological Oncology, and especially the entire team on the fifth floor of the Gibson Pavilion at Maine Med for the outstanding care that Jan received.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, February 10 from 4-7pm at Dolby Funeral Chapel, 76 State Street in Gorham. Jan’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, February 11 at 10:30 a.m. at First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church Street, Gorham. A reception will follow at Spire 29, 29 School Street, Gorham. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations in Jan’s name to Baxter Memorial Library, 71 South Street, Gorham, or First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church Street, Gorham. To express condolences or to participate in Jan’s online tribute please visit www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com