Ruth Eastman

Ruth W. Eastman, 88, of Brownfield, ME died January 24, 2011 at the Bridgton Health Care in Bridgton, ME after a long illness. Born in Whitman, MA, the daughter of Edward and Marjorie (Ellis) Reed, she moved to North Conway in 1971 and to Brownfield in 1979.
Ruth spent her early years with her family in Whitman, Plymouth and Marion, Massachusetts. She had many stories of growing up with a large extended family, having fun on the beach, in the ocean and enjoying artistic pursuits. In the winter Ruth and her friends took the ski train from Boston to North Conway. She met her husband, Rodney on one of these trips, then married him and raised four children in North Conway. She was a nursery school teacher, kindergarten teacher, school treasurer, arts and crafts teacher and Girl Scout leader. In Brownfield she was a member of the This and That club. She loved to travel and be outside. Many days were spent with her family on the Saco and on the beach at Pine Point. She was a painter, a knitter, the maker of fine costumes and mostly she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.
The family includes two daughters, Rebecca Eastman of York, PA and Jane S. Eastman of Brownfield; a son, Joel E. Eastman and his partner, Walter Murch, of Sanford, ME; four grandchildren, Donal Heidenblad and his wife Lauren, Morgan Butters, Leigh Boisvert and her husband Ray and Ruth Heidenblad; three sisters, Dorothea Harris and her husband Robert of Marion, MA, JoAn Reed of East Bridgewater, MA and Marjorie Ann Duquette of Raymond, MA and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her husband, Rodney L. Eastman, Jr., in 2010, a daughter, Phebe R. Butters, in 1992 and a sister Barbara Goulet.
Visiting hours will be held Friday January 28, 2011 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway. Graveside services will be held in the Kearsarge Cemetery in the spring.
Donations may be sent to the Brownfield Recreation Department, 82 Main Street,