JOAN E. MARTIN
SANGERVILLE - Joan E. Martin, 51, wife of Rex B. Martin, died Oct. 30, 2005, at her home. She was born April 23, 1954, in Bangor, the daughter of Dwight D. and Patricia (Packard) Merrill. Joani will be remembered for her love of gardening, traveling, both foreign and domestic and she especially enjoyed her canoeing, hiking and horseback riding trips. She worked for Pride Golf Tee for nearly 15 years in customer service, handling mostly oversea accounts. She moved to Sangerville in 1996, where she and her husband rebuilt an old 1830's house and enjoyed every minute of it. Some of the most important memories for her were when her children would come to visit, no matter what the occasion. She particularly enjoyed her Sunday dinners with her father, Dwight Merrill, especially after her mother, Pat, passed away. Joani was a person who always looked forward, even when she was ill from her treatments. She will be remembered by some and loved by all who knew her. She often quoted the following passage: "I can do all things though Christ" (Phillipians 4:13).

Joani is survived by her husband, Rex, of Sangerville; three sons, Richard D. Thomas and his wife, Amanda, and their son, Brent Matthew Thomas, all of Dover-Foxcroft, Christopher L. Thomas of Manchester, N.H. and Sean D. Martin, currently serving with the U.S. Navy in Norfolk, Va.; her father, Dwight D. Merrill of Dover-Foxcroft; her father-in-law, William Martin of Thomaston; three brothers, James S. Merrill and his wife, Gloria, of Dover-Foxcroft, John P. Merrill and his wife, Barbara, of Dover-Foxcroft and Richard W. Merrill of N.H.

Memorial services will be conducted 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, with the Rev. Ernest Campbell officiating. Burial will be in the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home.