Lois F. Martin
The death of Lois Fraser (Morell) Martin of Miramichi, NB, occurred at her home in Miramichi, New Brunswick on November 10, 2018.
Lois was born in Minto, NB, in December 1929, the daughter of the late Grace (Jones) and Fred C. Morell, Sr. Raised in Newcastle, NB, Lois graduated from Harkins High School in 1945 and the New Brunswick Normal School later that year. She taught school in Grand Manan, Newcastle, and Hudson Heights, QC, before moving to Chatham to teach at D. L. MacLaren School at the former CFB Chatham.
After her marriage to J. Robert Martin in 1956, Lois attended Saint Michael's Basilica in Chatham, NB, and was active in organizations that served the mentally challenged, including both the local and provincial levels of the Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded (CAMR) and the Board of Directors of Howard Henderson House in Chatham.
In 1977 Lois was the first woman elected to serve on Chatham Town Council. During her term she became very interested in heritage preservation and was involved in several heritage projects. She did not re-offer in 1980, having established Northumberland News, a local weekly newspaper that ran between 1979 and 1991, where she was co owner, publisher and editor.
Lois compiled a series of articles about historic people and buildings of the Miramichi which she published as Historical Sketches of the Miramichi. In 1982, in recognition of her role in restoring the W. S. Loggie House in Chatham and other heritage projects, she was awarded a medal for Community Service in Atlantic Canada from the Heritage Canada Foundation. In 1985 she was named "Miramichi Lady of the Year" by the Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.
Following their retirement in 1992, Lois and Robert enjoyed many winters in Naples, Florida, and Victoria, BC. She was predeceased by Robert in 2008, brothers, Horace and his wife, Audrey, George and Fred Morell, Jr.
Lois is survived by sons, J. Stephen Martin (Sandra Barss), Halifax, NS; Frederick C. Martin (Wanda Martin), Saskatoon, SK; Geoffrey R. Martin (Erin Steuter), Sackville, NB; and Andrew P. Martin, Restigouche Centre, Campbellton, NB; granddaughters, Charlotte Steuter-Martin, Stamford, CT, and Marilla Steuter Martin, Montréal, QC; sister in law, Ethel Morell, Winnipeg, MB; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday, November 15, at Maher’s Funeral Home, 35 University Avenue, Miramichi, NB. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Michael’s Basilica at 1 pm on Friday, November 16, with committal in St. Michael’s Cemetery following the service.
The family extends sincere thanks to all who helped make the last weeks of life as comfortable as possible for Lois, and in particular to Bobby Manuel whose devoted service to Lois for the past many years has been so greatly appreciated. As an expression of sympathy a donation may be made to the memorial of the donor's choice. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Maher's Funeral Home Miramichi, N.B. Telephone 773-4321or www.mahersfh.com