ELLSWORTH – Beatrice Mitchell Martin, 94, died May 17, 2016, in Ellsworth with her family at her side. She was born in Southwest Harbor on Jan. 25, 1922, the daughter of Malvin “Pete” Mitchell and Vera (Robinson) Mitchell.
Her father worked for Stinson’s Sardines, so Beatrice grew up in the small towns of coastal Maine as Pete moved from factory to factory. Finally, the family returned to Southwest Harbor and Beatrice graduated from Pemetic High School in 1940; she was the last surviving member of her class. She was also one of the last of that Greatest Generation, and when her older brother, Arthur, joined up, Beatrice moved to Holyoke, Mass., and found a job inspecting artillery guns at Worthington Pump for 83 cents per hour. She was proud of her part in the war effort, and as she liked to say, the guns didn’t leave the plant without her approval.
After the war, Bea and her brother returned to Hancock County and opened The Crescent cabins and restaurant. She married Wilton E. Martin of Sullivan on Nov. 2, 1947, in Southwest Harbor as Mount Desert Island burned around them.
Bea’s avocation was antiques. In 1967, she opened The Bow Window Antiques in Orland in partnership with her sister-in-law Barbara (Gray) Martin. Over the course of the next 25 years, Beatrice set up shop in several locations. She was well known as the proprietress of The Even Exchange, a popular antiques shop on the corner of Route 1 and the Tunk Lake Road in Sullivan, until it burned in December of 1999. Beatrice continued to dabble in antiques until just before her death.
Bea, who was better known as “Gram” to her family and the many who loved her, will be forever remembered as a wise and kind mentor and the best kind of friend. She is survived by three children and their spouses: Jeffrey Martin and his wife, Kathleen, of Bethel, Robin Berard and her husband, Tony, of Coral Springs, Fla., and Sullivan, and Jonathan Martin and his wife, Elena, of Ellsworth. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Christopher Martin (and his wife, Nikki), Angela (Martin) Norige (and her husband, Andy), Shannon Martin, Jeffrey Berard, Alex Berard (and his wife, Leah), Ryan Martin, Ben Chapman, and Greg Martin. She had nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In her last years, she was well cared for by a special friend and neighbor, Howard Budman. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Arthur Mitchell, her husband, Wilton E. Martin, and one daughter, Jo Anne Martin.
A memorial service will be held at a date to be announced. Those wishing to make contributions in memory of Beatrice may donate to the Ark Animal Shelter, 60 Barber Lane, Cherryfield, ME.
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