Joan Evelyn Cross Steward of Skowhegan passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 24, 2011 in Skowhegan, Maine. She was born on August 4, 1936 in Skowhegan to Robert and Evelyn (Huff) Cross Sr. In September of 1959, Joan was born again when she accepted Christ as her personal Savior. On June 28, 1952, Joan married her high school sweetheart, Philip E. Steward, Sr. they made their home in Skowhegan where Joan was a homemaker and assisted her husband as the bookkeeper for their business, Cross Gas Company. Joan was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother always supporting and encouraging her family. She was an avid reader and enjoyed quilting, gardening, researching genealogy, and spending time with her family at her cottage at Lake Wesserunsett. For the past decade, she has been an active member in the Somerset Samplers and the Pine Tree Quilters Guild, Inc. She developed many close friendships with her fellow quilters as they attended workshops and gathered weekly to sew. Joan spent many hours researching her family history and ancestors. She became a member of the Eunice Farnsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on January 31, 1975, of the Mayflower Society in 1996, and a charter member of the Solon Historical Society in 1999. She is survived by her devoted husband, Philip, son Philip Jr. and his wife Debra of Pepperell, MA, daughter Susan Lowry and her husband Ronald of Kankakee, IL, and daughter Rachel Hitchings and her husband Rick of Skowhegan, ME, as well as six grandchildren Kate and Bethany Steward, Christine Lawson and her husband Jonathan, Calla Lowry, Meghann Holcomb and her husband Jared, Christopher Hitchings and his fiancé Katie Beeh, five great-grandchildren Sophia, Cedric, and Liam Holcomb, Joshua Beeh, and Lucy Hitchings. She is also survived by her brother Robert Cross Jr. and his wife Joan and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the entire staff at HealthReach Hospice. A special thank you to Una and Randy Whalen, Terri and Greg Theriault, and Lena and Rodney Arno for their many visits, food, and compassionate care during Joan’s illness. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2011 at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, August 1, 2011 at Crossroads Bible Church, Route 201, Madison, with Pastor Louis Turner officiating. Arrangements are under the care of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Health Reach Hospice, Maine General Health, Office of Philanthropy, P O Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903.