Elaine Raymond Martin

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Elaine Raymond Martin, 88, passed away February 2, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida.  She was of Acadian descent, her family having migrated to Maine from what is now known as Nova Scotia.  During the English Deportation of the French in 1755, her 4th great grandfather Jean Baptiste Raymond and another French compatriot fomented mutiny aboard the English deportation ship, the Pembroke, and sailed it to St. Johns, New Brunswick.  The family went North to Quebec and then down into Maine.  His wife, Josephite Mius d' Entremont, was the granddaughter of Phillipe II Mius d' Entremont, governor of Acadia.  Her maternal great grandfather was Algonquin Chief Madakowando, of the tribe located on the Penobscot River in Maine.

Mrs. Martin was born March 20, 1927 in Portage Lake, Maine and had a hard growing up during the Depression and its aftermath.  She was forced to leave school to go to work at age 13, but she was a voracious reader and continued her education independently.  She often said "If you can read, you can do anything."

Mrs. Martin met her husband, Otis G. Martin of Lancaster, New Hampshire, while working at Keene State College, where he was a student.  They married November 13, 1943.  Although she was raised in a primarily French speaking family, Mrs. Martin spoke perfect English.  Eventually she became a Librarian at Weeks Memorial Library in Lancaster.   She was also an expert seamstress, an athlete, a gardener of vegetables and flowers.  She knew every native bird and their songs and habits.  She was a great cook and made bread every week till the end of her life.  She was a carpenter alongside her husband, and they built their retirement home on Burns Pond in Whitefield, New Hampshire, where she frequently entertained family with fine food and lots of laughter.  She spent her later years quilting and painting.  She donated much of her time and quilts to the Whitefield Public Library for raffle to support the Library.  She was accomplished in fine art and folk art and leaves many works to her children.  New York artist and illustrator, Leon Drechsler, admired her paintings for their subtility of colors.  Her favorite piece was of an Eagle which harkens back to her roots and echos her strong spirit.  Her favorite folk art subjects were birds and flowers painted on trays and wood furnishings made by her husband.

Of all of her many accomplishments, Mrs. Martin was most proud of her progeny.  She is survived by her sons Stephen, Scott "Ray", and Matthew, and her daughter Shannon Martin,  23 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.  Among  them number a Master Carpenter, many businessmen, a Clinical Psychologist, a Computer Consultant, a School Counselor, Health Care Professionals, a Veteranarian, a Culinary Artist, an Architect,  An Accountant, a Master Deaf Education Teacher, a Band Musician, a Computer Tech, Soccer and Black Belt Tai Kwon Do Athletes,  a Thespian, Concert Pianist, and a Dancer.  We thank her for her ferocious intellect and creative genius and, though we miss her, we feel her strong spirit in us and see it in our children.

Elaine Martin was of an age that forged formidable strength of character and she gave it back to the world in full measure.

A Celebration of Life will be observed

11:00 AM on Friday August 12th, 2016 at the Summer Street Cemetery in Lancaster.