Mrs. Joanne Insley Pearre, 77, of Frederick, beloved wife of Dr. A. Austin Pearre, Jr., died on Friday, August 3, 2012, at her home with her husband by her side after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Catonsville on April 12, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Earl Glendon and Dorothy Self Insley. In 1957 she graduated from Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA, where her father was a professor of chemistry. She married Robert Mercer Payne and taught high school English in Charlottesville, VA, until her husband's death in a tragic automobile accident while she was pregnant with their second child. She then returned to Fredericksburg with their two young children. She was due to join the faculty of Mary Washington College, when she met Dr. Pearre who talked her into marrying him instead. After her 1961 marriage to Dr. Pearre, the family lived in Charlottesville and China Lake, CA, before settling in Frederick in 1966. Much admired as a beautiful woman, caring friend, and gracious hostess, Joanne became a role model for other women, contributing her time and talent to numerous community organizations in Frederick, among them the Frederick Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the vestry of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Planned Parenthood, The Delaplaine Arts Center, the Garden Club of Frederick, and the Episcopal Orphan House Scholarship Fund Board, where she served as president. In 1967 she was instrumental in starting a book club which continues to thrive, where she was an active reviewer. She is survived by her husband of 51 years; four children, Thomas Blackburn Payne II and his wife Lu Ann Homza, of Williamsburg, VA; Robert Mercer Payne, of Los Angeles, CA; Insley Pearre and her husband Steven Wilson, of Los Angeles; and Austin Lindsay Pearre and his wife Lisa, of Frederick; five grandchildren, Isaac Austin Wilson, Eliza Pearre Wilson, Forrest Reed Pearre, Colin Alexander Pearre and Lindsay Tourjée Pearre; one brother, William Glendon Insley and his wife Brenda, of Richmond, VA; two devoted sisters-in-law, Eleanor Pearre Abbot and Nancy Pearre Lesure; and by many nephews and nieces. She will also be remembered with great affection by the dedicated women who have lovingly cared for her during her long illness, and by many loyal and caring friends. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, August 9, 2012, from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 35 East Church Street, Frederick. (The service is being held at Evangelical Lutheran due to construction at All Saints' Episcopal Church.) Interment will be private and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Alzheimer's Association, 108 Bytle Drive, Suite 103, Frederick MD 21702, or to The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, 40 South Carroll Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Online condolences may be shared with the family at keeneybasford.com
