SEARSPORT — Martha McLain of Searsport, Maine passed away on February 4, 2021 at the age of 87.

She was born Martha Frances Jones on June 8, 1933 to Hobart and Louise Jones of Darien, Connecticut and she spent most of her childhood there before the family moved to a farm in Sandy Hook, Connecticut in 1947.  She attended Newtown High School where she was thankful that her father was NOT the principal, as had been the case in Darien. 

In 1951 she married Hans Burkard and together they built a house in 1955, doing all of the work themselves.

Martha was a proud first and second grade and remedial reading teacher from 1962 through her retirement in 1997. Her first ten years were spent at Brookfield Elementary School, near the family home in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. The last twenty five were divided between Frankfort Elementary School and Stockton Springs Elementary School in Midcoast Maine. Later in her career she had students who were children of her earlier students.  

Horses were a lifelong passion and she would be seen riding, caring for, even trailering them between homes in Connecticut and Maine. Martha owned several rescued horses and also a few fine Arabians throughout her life. She settled with her family at a farm in Prospect, Maine in 1972, which proved to be a great place for her horses and the farming that she also enjoyed.

Martha also enjoyed traveling, making trips with her family to Europe, Cape Hatteras, and many shorter trips to visit relatives in Maine. She also took long drives cross-country during her summer breaks with her children, camping and exploring parks and landmarks along the way.  After her retirement from teaching, she and a good friend went on a driving trip out west.

After retiring, Martha took up crafting as a hobby and source of income and she and her second husband Joe kept a table at a flea market in Searsport. The crafters and flea marketers are a close group and she made some good friends there.

Martha is survived by her husband, Joe McLain, of Searsport; her sister Marie Cerda of San Diego, California; and her children Dwight Burkard, and wife Pat of Otisfield, Maine, Kitty (Burkard) Mitchell and husband Ben of Winterport, Maine, and Paul Burkard and wife Connie of Stockton Springs, Maine. She leaves behind eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Brendon Jones; and an infant sister Marylin Jones.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a celebration of her life will be scheduled for a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com