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Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home - Dover

655 Central Avenue

Dover, New Hampshire

Lois Martin Obituary

DOVER - Lois Martin, 90, passed away Monday night, June 4, 2018, at Bellamy Fields Assisted Living where she had been residing for the last few years. Ms. Martin was the daughter of Martha M. (Lannigan) Martin and Harry L. Martin and she had one brother, H. Lynwood Martin.

Lois enjoyed telling stories about her grandparents who owned a bathing beach pavilion along the Taunton River in Fall River, R.I. where they sold chowder and ice cream and rented out cotton bathing suits to families so they could enjoy swimming. Lois spent her childhood in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts and in 1952, she moved to Dover with her mother to join her brother and work at General Electric in Somersworth.

Lois graduated from Dean Academy and Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts in 1947. Always practical and self-sufficient, Lois attended Katherine Gibbs School in Providence, R.I., a school whose mission was to train young women as professional secretaries and which had a dress code requiring students to wear a hat and white gloves to class. Using her secretarial skills, Lois was hired by General Electric where she eventually and proudly became the first woman in GE's Distribution Sales and Marketing Department to receive a salary rather than hourly pay. Lois thoroughly enjoyed working with sales personnel from across the country, showing off New England and taking them to Foster's in York, Maine for lobsters. Lois worked at GE for over 35 years and retired in 1988.

Besides work, Lois loved being outdoors and active. She was an avid golfer and longtime member of Cochecho Country Club. In the winter, Lois could be found skiing in the White Mountains. She also traveled extensively both in the United States and places as Alaska, England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Caribbean.

In the late 60s, Lois bought a cottage in her childhood town of Mattapoisett and began a tradition of spending summers there with a circle of old childhood friends. Her days were filled with golf, swimming, long walks to the lighthouse, and relaxing on the beach.

Lois enjoyed and shared these many activities with her longtime friend and companion, Ola Durnin who passed away in 2006 and was greatly missed by Lois. In her later years, Lois' constant companion was her beloved dog Fritz. Lois attributed her stamina and energy during her 80s to all the walking she did with Fritz. She also continued her friendship and card- playing with a group of cherished women friends in Dover until her death.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Bellamy Fields Assisted Living for their thoughtful and kind care of Lois in her last years.

Survivors include her goddaughter Sharon Thompson and many other Thompson family members from Durham, N.C., many members of Ola Durnin's family, and her devoted friends in Dover and Mattapoisett.

SERVICES: Friends may call Friday, June 8, from 4-6 p.m. at Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Avenue. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, at 10 a.m., at St. Thomas Episcopal Church with the Rev. Sue Poulin, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, with a reception following at Cocheco Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mattapoisett Land Trust, P.O. Box 31, Mattapoisett, MA 02739; www.mattlandtrust.org.

Published by Foster's Daily Democrat from Jun. 6 to Jun. 10, 2018.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

Cornerstone VNA sends our deepest sympathy on your loss.

June 12, 2018

Lois always impressed me with her vitality and wonderful spirit. As a grand nephew of Ola, I saw the many good times the two of them shared. Lois joined us for many fun family events and always made them better with her warm, loving personality. Learning more here about her pioneering spirit as a woman makes her all the more wonderful. She made the lives of all she touched better, and I think she had a heck of a lot of fun in the process. A person to look up to for sure!
Sending love to all,
Gregg

Gregg Jazuk-Hayward

Friend

June 7, 2018

There are no words that could adequately express the emotions I am feeling at this time, having just read the obituary for Lois. My Golden Retriever therapy dog Brady and I have enjoyed countless Thursday visits with Lois at Bellamy Fields - and our visits always included interesting conversations, wonderful humor and a beautiful sparkle in her eyes when I'd mention how handsome and sweet Fritz was, having had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago. When Brady and I are at Bellamy Fields tomorrow, we will both feel a huge emptiness but, that said, there is no doubt that Lois will forever remain in our hearts. May your cherished memories bring you comfort and joy in the days ahead. With Golden love, Eileen and Brady

Eileen Shevelin

June 6, 2018

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Memorial Events
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Jun

8

Calling hours

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home - Dover

655 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820

Jun

9

Funeral service

10:00 a.m.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

NH

Jun

9

Burial

Pine Hill Cemetery

NH

Funeral services provided by:

Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home - Dover

655 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820

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