Jean Lorraine Voter

AVON, ME -- Jean L. Voter, 84, of Avon, died peacefully Friday, Aug. 15, 2008, at Orchard Park Living and Rehabilitation Center in Farmington.

She was born Sept. 29, 1923, in Industry, the daughter of Erald M. Crocker and Mary Lucille (Smith) Crocker. She attended the one room school house in West Mills. She graduated as an honor student from Farmington High School in 1941 where she was active in drama and had received a first place award in public speaking. Upon graduating, she was offered a job as secretary to the president of what was then called Farmington Normal School (now the University of Maine at Farmington) where her work received high praise from President Erral L. Dearborn. She was always very dutiful to her family back in Industry, bringing special treats when she returned home on weekends and holidays.

She married Laurence M. Voter and became his partner and homemaker on the dairy farm. She also worked with her husband at the dairy bar they co-owned while continuing to manage the farm. In her later years she became a secretary to the superintendent of schools for Phillips and SAD 58 for many years. She then retired to help care for her mother.

Throughout her lifetime, she loved fishing, flower gardening, researching genealogy, and painting. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and going on family outings to the coast and to her childhood home in Industry. She loved spending time with her family at her camp on Beaver Mountain Lake in Sandy River Plantation. The time spent with her brother, Ellsworth, and his family at holidays, camp, and family reunions was very important to her.

She was a member of the Phillips United Methodist Church where in her younger years she taught Sunday school. She was a Cub Scout leader and a member of the Autora Grange 202. She cherished the time she spent with her 12 grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children: a son, Delmar, and his wife, Marilyn, of South Windham; a son, Dale, and his wife, Sheilya, of Burnham; a daughter, Valerie, and her husband, Allan Martin, of Fairfield; a son, Verne, of Avon; one brother, Ellsworth, and his wife, Carmen, of Farmington; one stepbrother, Dana Dill, and his wife, Jessie, of New Sharon; a granddaughter, Angel and her husband, Darren Allen; grandson, Micah and his wife, Joy; grandson, Jake and his wife, Stephanie; grandsons, Karl, Keith, Kurt, and Kevin Martin and his wife, Danielle; granddaughters, Mariah and her husband, Christopher Bowker, Gretchen, Sarah, Jennifer and her husband, Oliver Beane, and Rebekah and her husband, Anthony Lutz; 14 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Laurence; her parents; her stepfather, Carroll Dill; and one infant brother.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Wiles Funeral Home, Cremation Service & Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, with the Rev. John Tolman officiating. Family and friends are invited to call 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the funeral home. Following cremation, private family interment will be at the Mile Square Cemetery in Avon.

Gifts may be given in Jean's memory to the Town of Avon Heating Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 330, Phillips, ME 04966. Words of condolence may be sent to wilesfuneralhomes@verizon.net.

Published in the Morning Sentinel on 8/19/2008