Joanne Carroll Murray Blakeman died peacefully on November 28, 2023. She was born in Rutland, Vermont on September 30, 1933, to W. Donald Murray and Anna Evelyn (Carroll) Murray. The Murrays moved to Williamstown to be near family, where they operated the General Store.

Joanne graduated from Williamstown High School in 1951. She was especially proud of playing for the basketball team during its 107-game winning streak, and she loved keeping in touch with her 13 classmates. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1955 with a business education degree and began teaching at Montpelier High School that fall in the business department. She fondly remembers the celebration of the high school moving to its present location, a parade of students and staff walking from the Main Street location (now the Middle School) to the new school off Bailey Avenue.

At Montpelier High School, she met Alan Blakeman. They married on August 13, 1960 at Bethany Church. They moved to 22 Winter Street in 1962. There they lived for 51 years. Joanne and Alan both enjoyed living in the Meadow neighborhood, where there were plenty of activities and families, many of whom became close friends.

Joanne left teaching to raise her four children in 1962, during which time she also kept extra busy with volunteering locally as well as some teaching and bookkeeping work. She later operated the Sunshine Nursery School out of the family home on Winter Street. After nine years running the nursery school, she went to work in the office at Bethany Church in 1986, for attorney Julian Goodrich, and finally, in 1992, for Community College of Vermont, coming full circle to connect back into the education field. She retired from CCV and stayed on to do special projects until 2013.

Joanne was an active volunteer in many capacities at Bethany Church and for other community and civic organizations, such as the Jaycees and the Home Demonstration clubs. She especially enjoyed her role as a leader of the 4-H club, the Honey Bears. She supported her children and then grandchildren in their many activities, attending county fairs, field hockey games, gymnastics meets, scout meetings, track meets, hockey games, plays, soccer games, cross country meets, skating shows, and more, with much pride and joy.

Joanne and Alan moved to Westview Meadows in the summer of 2013, from one meadow to another. Following Alan's death in 2016, Joanne was grateful for the loving support of the Westview community, an embrace that lasted to the end of her life. Her family is also grateful for the providers at Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice. Joanne celebrated her 90th birthday with her family on September 30, 2023, a special occasion joined by her nieces and nephews.

Family was an important priority for Joanne. She is survived by her daughters: Jennifer Barlow and husband Michael, of Merrimac, Massachusetts; Patty Turley and husband Chris, of Montpelier, Vermont; Judith McElree and husband Lane of St. Albans, Vermont; and Derek Blakeman and wife Heidi Einolf of Randolph, New Jersey. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Peter Turley and wife Chelsea of Fayston, Vermont; Alyssa Robinson and husband Lance of South Burlington, Vermont; George Barlow of Merrimac, Massachusetts; Alan Barlow and fiancé Tim Baroz of Grand Isle, Vermont; Sarah McElree of St. Albans, Vermont; Daniel Blakeman and Charles Blakeman, both of Randolph, New Jersey. Joanne is also survived by two great-grandchildren, C.J. Turley and Blake Turley. She was predeceased by her husband, Alan Blakeman, her parents, and her beloved sister, Cynthia McGlynn.

To honor Joanne, please treat each other with kindness. Memorial contributions in Joanne's memory can be made to Bethany United Church of Christ, 115 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602 or to Community College of Vermont, PO Box 489, Montpelier, VT 05601.

Calling hours are on Monday, December 4, from 5-7 at Guare's Funeral Home in Montpelier. A service to remember her life will be held on Tuesday, December 5, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Church in Montpelier.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com.