Joan M. Norton

Joan was born in Buffalo, NY on April 21, 1927. She was the oldest child of Eliot Whitney Mitchell and Alice Frank Morris. Joan’s father died in a tragic car accident when she was five years old. The family moved to live with her grandparents in Brooklyn Heights, NY where Joan attended Packard School. Several years later, her mother married Harry H. Morris and the family moved to New Canaan, CT. Joan attended New Canaan Country Day School, Abbot Academy in Andover, MA and Finch Jr. College in NY. In 1948, she married Dr. Edwin L. Neville, Jr., son of the late Edwin L. Neville, former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, and the late Betsey Baird Neville.

Joan and Edwin raised their five children in New Canaan, CT and spent summers in South Conway, NH. Joan was a successful real estate broker for a number of years. She was also an active volunteer in her community, a member of the Jr. League and a member of the PTA. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, tennis and sailing. She was an avid bridge player.

Edwin and Joan were divorced in 1967. Joan married Cedric Norton of New Canaan in 1969. They moved to Ridgefield, CT where Joan continued her real estate business. In 1979, Joan moved to Newport, RI where she lived for 17 years.

She walked the beaches daily, volunteered at the Newport Museum and continued to play tennis and bridge. She later moved to Maine and spent her remaining years at Sedgewood Commons where she received impeccable care from a skilled and devoted staff.

Joan was predeceased by her eldest son Edwin L. Neville III of Tuscon, AZ and her brother Eliot Whitney Mitchell of Stuart, FL.

She is survived by four children; Whitney Neville Harvey of Portland, ME, Peter Baird Neville of West Hartford, CT, Dr. Matthew Neville of Geneva, IL, and Cathy Neville of San Diego, CA. She is survived by seven grandchildren. She is also survived by two siblings; Louise Mitchell Whitcomb of Fort Lauderdale, FL and George H. Morris of Wellington, FL.

A memorial service for Joan will be held in New Canaan, CT in June.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Jones, Rich and Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford Street Portland Maine.