Glenna Johnson Smith

PRESQUE ISLE – Glenna Johnson Smith, passed away on Saturday, August 8, 2020, surrounded by her family.  She was born in Lincolnville, Maine and grew up in Ashville, Maine, the daughter of Seth and Kathleen Proctor Johnson. She was predeceased by her parents and by her sister-in-law Pauline Smith Kirkpatrick and Pauline's husband Kenneth of Easton, Maine, her sister-in-law Natalie Smith Henness of Brandon, Florida and her dear friend Louise Findlen of Fort Fairfield, Maine. She attended Sullivan, Maine schools, graduated from the University of Maine in Orono and did graduate work at the University of California @ San Jose, the University of Minnesota and the Univeristy of Maine at Orono and Presque Isle. Glenna married Donald C Smith of Easton, Maine in 1941 and lived on a potato farm in Presque Isle, Maine. The greatest joy of her life was watching her sons Steven, Byron and Melbourne grow up. She is survived by her three sons, Steven's wife Sylvia, Melbourne's daughters Jasmine and her fiancé Brian and Hillary and her husband Rick, Melbourne's step-daughter Ashley and her husband Mark and Melbourne's step-son Joshua and his wife Bethany. She is also survived by Jasmine's daughter Ella, and son Calvin, Hillary's son Kevin, Ashley's son Tim and daughter Abby, Joshua's children Meti, Enoch, Tigist, Justice and Erbeka, the four beloved nieces Shirley, Diane, Linda and Lorraine and lifelong friends Kerry and Kent. "The time has come" the walrus said, "to talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings." * Sullivan High School had only three teachers: the principal taught math and science, one woman taught English and the other woman taught French and Latin. A teacher, Miss Ruth Belknap, encouraged Glenna to learn a dramatic piece each year to present at local, county and state contests. Glenna's college years were not satisfying. She had been strongly urged to major in home economics and she hated everything about the course. She was invited to join a sorority but did not have the money to do so. She admired at a distance —runner from her window and her friend Sally Culberson introduced her to him — Don Smith, her future husband. Don and Glenna saw each other briefly every night from 6-7:30, when they walked to Orono to have whoopee pies and milk at Pat's Pizza. Soon after graduation, Don & Glenna married and moved to Easton, where they lived in a farmhouse that had neither running water nor electricity. Glenna had no idea how to be a farm wife and she didn't fit in with Don's family. In fact, they made fun of her at Sunday gatherings. After 30 years, he wanted a divorce and she was devastated. However, she soon learned that she was better-off single; she no longer feared his temper and she could make her own choices. When her sister-in-law Polly asked if she'd like to buy Richard Hoyt's house, she said yes before she ever saw it. She had recently sold her father's house in Sullivan so she could afford it. She was tired of being cooped up in her tiny apartment. Ever after, she loved her small house on a quiet street. She loved her trees and her little flower garden. Mary, across the street, was a good friend and neighbor. Glenna was sad when Mary moved away. Glenna taught school for nearly 40 years in Easton, Fort Fairfield and for most of that time at Presque Isle High School, where she assisted with the drama program. In later years, she wrote seven plays which were produced in Maine and New Hampshire schools as well as community and summer theaters. Two of her plays represented her state at New England drama festivals. She had poems published in Maine Speaks, an anthology of Maine writers, and in a New England anthology and other journals. Some of her essays appeared in Yankee Magazine. She wrote two books: Old Maine Woman and Return of Old Maine Woman, published by Islandport Press. After retiring from public-school teaching, Glenna worked for Northeast Publishing Co. and she taught courses and Elder Hostel classes at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She wrote a column for Echoes Magazine for 25 years and she belonged to a writing group of friends. Although her sons and grandchildren were the center of her life, she was thankful for her dear friends and colleagues, for her teaching, writing and theater experiences and for all her days in the changing landscapes and seasons in Northern Maine. "Oh, Oysters" said the carpenter, "you've had a pleasant run. Shall we be trotting home again?"* Lewis Carroll from Through the Looking Glass. Services will be determined at a later date.  Memories and condolences may be shared at www.duncan-graves.com