Obituary of Valerie Jean Martin

Valerie Jean (Murphy) Martin, 62, of Frankfort passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 12, 2018. She was born in Belfast, Maine on December 16, 1955 the daughter of Robert Murphy and Edna Paul Murphy Blood. Valerie grew up in Belfast and Waldo. She earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Eastern Maine Community College and eventually went on to teach at Broadreach Family and Community Services after many years in the restaurant business working for the Knight, Savitz and Salvatore families. In her younger years she was an avid softball player and enjoyed riding horses. She loved watching sporting events especially those that involved her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed crafting projects, knitting, shopping, her flower gardens, travelling and being a pre-school teacher. Valerie was an amazing seamstress and made many quilts for her family and friends. She was very proud of earning her motorcycle license and being able to go on road trips with her husband Roger. Valerie enjoyed helping others and supporting her family and was always a listening ear for anyone in need. She was a great cook, a loving and generous person, who enjoyed “steamers” with Stanley and occasionally could be spotted dancing on the bar, as dancing was a favorite activity especially to The Motown Song by Rod Stewart. Valerie was pre-deceased by her mother, Edna Blood, her brother, Robert Murphy, Jr., a nephew, Brian Maresh and her father in law, Charles Martin. She is survived by her husband, Roger Martin, her children, Tom (Lorri) Lavway, Meghan (Michael) Abbott and Cassie Martin (Dustin Nadeau), her father, Robert Murphy, Sr., siblings, Angela (Jon) Gradie, Cathy (Alfred) Reynolds, Teresa Murphy and Michael Murphy (Mary Haggan), her step father, Stanley Blood and mother in law, Arlene Martin. Valerie had six grandchildren – Krystal, Brittany, Dylan, Lyndsey, Matthew and Carter. She is also survived by three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 19th from 2:00 to 5:00 with an Open House at the Waldo Community Center, 629 Waldo Station Road in Waldo. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to bring school supplies for donation to the Broadreach Sprouts and 4-Year-Old Programs.