FREEPORT — Nancy Powers Martin, 96, of South Freeport, died Jan. 4 of pneumonia.

Born in West Medford, Mass., on Dec. 20, 1914, a daughter of Albert Blake Powers and Katherine Gertrude Bacon, she attended Medford schools, graduated in 1937 from the University of New Hampshire, and took graduate courses at the University of Maine in Orono.

On June 29, 1940, she married a fellow UNH classmate, Gordon E. Martin of Portland. They were married for 59 years until his death on June 16, 2000.

They lived in Portland until 1970, when they built their dream house in the woods at Spar Cove in Freeport.

Their Freeport home was the site of many happy gatherings with her children and beloved grandchildren. She especially liked walking through Spar Cove Forest with her grandchildren, teaching them the names of plants and animals.

During the 1950s, she was chief therapeutic dietitian at Mercy Hospital in Portland, a faculty member of the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and consulted for area hospitals and institutions.

From the early 1960s until she retired, she served as director of nutrition services for the Maine Department of Mental Health and Corrections, where she established the centralized management of food service operations for 10 institutions.

Her dedication to her work was acknowledged by former Gov. James B. Longley with a Distinguished Service Award.

She enjoyed the companionship of dogs, and owned several collie dogs that she showed at Vacationland Dog Club of Maine sanctioned matches. Her favorite dog was “Emily,” a Samoyed-golden retriever.

A member and past deacon of the South Freeport Church, she was also former member of Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland, the Women’s Legislative Council of Maine, and the Maine Association of Retirees.

In August 2010, she became a resident of the Franklin Unit of the Hawthorne House in Freeport, due to health issues after suffering from several strokes, a brain tumor, vasculitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, arthritis and dementia.

She was predeceased by her husband Gordon and her sister, Katherine Bacon Powers Towne.

Survivors include her son, Peter Gilman Martin of North Las Vegas, Nev., and his son, Benjamin Pearson Martin of Las Vegas; Susan Blake Martin Lovell of Portland, and her children, Jennifer Blake Lovell Adams and Jonathan Wallace Lovell, both of Portland.

There will be no visiting hours. A private graveside service will be held at a later date at the family plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.

Arrangements are by Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth.

Please visit lindquistfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with her family.

Memorial contributions may be sent to South Freeport Church, P.O. Box 46, South Freeport, ME 04078.