Gladys Stuart Miller

Gladys Stevens Stuart Miller, 96, died at her home in Acton, Maine on December 18, 2019 after a period of failing health. In her final days she was cared for by her family. Born in Sanford, Maine on July 6, 1923 to Ernest Shapleigh Stevens and Ruth ThomasStevens, Gladys spent her childhood in the same home to which she returned in her later years.She attended a one room schoolhouse a short distance from that home as a young girl, andlater graduated near the top of her class from Sanford High School despite being a yearyounger than her classmates. After earning a degree in Theology from Gordon College ofTheology and Missions, then located in Boston, Gladys took a job in Virginia teaching religion inthe public schools. She traveled from school to school in a rural section of Virginia, teachingacross the color line in the then segregated schools. Returning to Maine in the late 1940's,Gladys married George Stuart (1927-1982) of Lebanon in 1950. Together they raised theirfamily of five children in a small house on New Road.When her children reached or neared school age, Gladys returned to teaching third grade atLebanon Elementary School, and earned a Master's degree in education from the University ofMaine in Portland. After retiring from teaching at the age of sixty, Gladys embarked on manyyears of creative and productive retirement. Among her activities were writing and bookdiscussion groups, Scrabble clubs, and art classes. She volunteered as a literacy tutor teachingreading to adults, staffed the then one room Lebanon public library for a time, took a number ofeducational trips, and was active in her church and the Lebanon Historical Society.Gladys played a pivotal role in the lives of her grandchildren, Jacob and Kevin Stuart, Cameronand Collin Stuart, Charlotte Buonano and Gordon Potter, Regan Poirier and Matthew Dyer. Shebelieved in teaching by example and, in addition to the unconditional love she gave them, shetaught them to be good citizens and tackle challenges with intelligence and integrity.A talented writer, poet and artist, Gladys transcribed and published, with commentary, the CivilWar diary of her great uncle John H. Stevens in 1997. The book is now held in several researchlibraries and has been cited in at least two scholarly works on the Civil War. In 2006 one of herpoems, "The Old Barn," was selected for publication in the literary journal The Northern NewEngland Review.After several years of widowhood, Gladys married Kenneth Miller of Acton, Maine in 1987 andlived with him on nearby Foxes Ridge until his death in the early 1990's. A widow once again,Gladys returned to the family home in Acton where her story began.Gladys was predeceased by her only sister, Mary-Elizabeth Stevens Moulton in 1959 and byher son-in-law Brewster Potter in 2018.She is survived by her daughter Gail Stuart and husband William Eusebio of Kittery, Maine; sonJames Stuart and wife Diane of Acton, Maine; son Keith Stuart and wife Candace of Acton,Maine, daughter Joanne Potter of Lebanon, Maine; and son Mark Stuart and wife Kathleen ofLebanon, Maine. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses, by six great grandchildren, and by her nieces and nephews.The family wishes to express a special thanks to the caring staff of Compassus Hospice ofScarborough, Maine.Family and friends are invited to share a time of remembrance at the home she shared with herson Keith and his family on January 4 from one to four PM. A burial service will be held in thespring.