Bernardston, MA – Jean E. (Proctor) Miller daughter of Helen Forrest and Donald Proctor passed away 12/4/2025 with her daughters at her side. Jean was born in Worcester, on March 15,1935. She grew up in Spencer, MA on her family’s dairy farm. Jean was passionate about music, playing the piano and the accordion. She and her three sisters all sang and played instruments in their teen years and often performed at local events. They even recorded a demo record. Jean graduated from David Prouty High School where she played sports and graduated Valedictorian of the class of 1952. She was active in 4-H, showing her cows at fairs, which is where she met her husband, Adrian.
Jean and Adrian were married March 27, 1954. They made their home in Spencer for 7 years before moving to Bernardston when they took over Adrian’s family farm.
Jean was an active partner in the family farm. She could be found in the fields, raking or baling hay, or running the corn chopper in the fall. She did all the record keeping of the dairy herd as well as the farm bookkeeping. When their five daughters started showing cows in 4-H she would drive the cattle truck to the different shows throughout Massachusetts.
Jean was active in all areas of the community from being a 4-H leader for 25 years to being a member of her church’s Mary Martha’s woman’s group, along with teaching Sunday School. She served on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Bernardston. She was active in PTO, serving as room parent for each of her daughters. When her daughters played sports throughout their school years she made every effort to never miss a game. Her desire to attend sporting events, dance recitals, 4-H dress reviews, and livestock shows continued with her 11 grandchildren.
Promoting Dairy Farms and Products was a large part of Jean’s life. She served as a trustee on the board of County Aid to Agriculture and from 1963-1985 she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. For several years she served as a director of the Holstein Friesian Association. She spearheaded her family’s participation in Relay for Life and Crop Walk.
Jean always welcomed her daughters’ friends to their home, often feeding them or “carting” them to different activities. She was a magician at stretching food to feed last minute guests. She was a firm believer in paying it forward long before it was popular. She was a pro at stretching the dollar sewing many of her children’s clothes and canning and freezing food from her large garden.
When Adrian and Jean sold the family farm in 1985 she started working at GBI, which were very happy years for her. She met a lot of long-time friends.
Jean was the catalyst for family events–Christmas Eves, Easter dinner and egg hunts. Family was always important. She never shied away from sharing family history stories which to this day continue to be passed on to the next generation.
Jean leaves behind her daughters Wendy Abramson and her husband Mark, children Melissa, Brian, and Amanda; Brenda Wozniakewicz and her husband Michael, children Jennifer, Kimberly, and Edward; Shirley Lilly and her husband Alan, children Christopher, Gregory, and Margaret; Martha Pantermehl and her husband Richard, children Luke and Drew. She also leaves behind 20 great grandchildren, her sisters Peggy Bouley and Janice Proctor and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Adrian and daughter Rebecca (Becky) Drew.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Kidder Funeral Home , 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Mass is assisting the family with arrangements.
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