AUGUSTA- Jean Shirley Webb Dowling, 81, passed away at the Augusta Rehabilitation Center on Monday, March 24, 2008 following a long battle with cancer. She was born in Augusta on October 26, 1926, the daughter of Joseph Roy and Helen Caswell Webb. She graduated from Cony High School, class of 1944, and from the University of Maine at Orono, class of 1948, where she majored in sociology. Upon graduation from UMO, Jean went to work for the then Maine Department of Health and Welfare and worked there, sometimes temporarily, until about 1960. She married William E. Dowling of Augusta on December 9, 1949 in Gardiner. In the next several years following her marriage, she had two children, worked for the State of Maine, and did some work as a substitute teacher. In 1962, following a move to New Gloucester, she took her first full-time teaching job at the Russell School in Gray. After the family moved back to Augusta the following year, she began teaching at SAD #47. In her 15 years of teaching at SAD #47, she taught at the Belgrade Central School, Williams Junior High School in Oakland, and her last couple of years at the James H. Bean School in Sidney, retiring from teaching in 1977. In 1978, Jean returned to doing social work for the Department of Human Services where she was a child protective worker. She retired from the State of Maine in 1981. She was a devoted mother to her children and a doting grandmother. She was always there for them in times of need and offered her wise counsel lovingly. She will be greatly missed by all her family. Jean was a talented pianist. Over the years, she was invited to play at family gatherings and other social occasions where there was a piano available. For a few years after her retirement, she played the keyboard in a musical group. Jean was predeceased by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her son, William E. Dowling, Jr. & his wife, Nancy; daughter, Judith McAfee & her husband, David, all of Augusta; three grandchildren, Kelly Dowling Chraibi & her husband, Salim, of Medford, Massachusetts; her grandson, Jeffrey Dowling of Windham; and granddaughter, Kristen McAfee, of Augusta. She is also survived by an aunt, Winifred Stratton, of Augusta, and many cousins. The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude for the compassionate care their mother received from Beacon Hospice; the Augusta Rehabilitation Center; Bridges; and the doctors involved with her care, Gene Cheng, MD; Donald Magioncalda, MD; and Dr. Groce, from Augusta Rehabilitation Center. At her request, there will be no visitation or funeral. A graveside service will be held at a later date at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Dr., Augusta. For those who wish, donations in Jean?s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, New England Division, Inc., One Main St., Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086 or to the charity of one?s choice. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, One Church St., Augusta. www.khrfuneralhomes.com