Esther D. (Anderson) Martin, 89, of 193 Forest Avenue, Middletown and formerly of 38 Hammond Street, Newport, died Sunday, June 25, 2006 at the Newport Hospital.

She was the wife of the late P. Francis "Fran" Martin. Born in Newport on September 11, 1916, she was a daughter of the late Emil and Mary (Rice) Anderson. A graduate of Rogers High School, she was lifelong parishioner of St. Augustin Church. Along with her husband Fran, Esther was a founding member of Gooseberry Beach.

When she was not spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she enjoyed playing cards, Scrabble and reading. She was also lifelong Red Sox baseball fan.

Esther is survived by her children:

• Christina M. Martin, R.S.M., Ed.D., of Bridgewater, MA,
• Peter F. Martin, Jr. of Newport,
• Michael J. Martin and his wife, Patty of Newport,
• Nancy E. Gavin and husband, James of The Villages, FL,
• Stephen P. Martin and his wife, Mary of Portsmouth, RI;
• 9 grandchildren: Michele Martin Webb of London, England, Christine M. Martin of San Francisco, CA, Michael J. Martin, Jr. of Jamestown, RI, Amy Martin Quinn of South Kingstown, RI, James F. Gavin, III of New Palestine, IN, Alison Marie Gavin of Sherman Oaks, CA, Andrew Martin Gavin of Louisville, KY, John Peter Martin of Portsmouth, RI and David James Martin of Portsmouth, RI; and
• 9 great-grandchildren;
• 2 sisters Jane M. Connell of Newport and Muriel "Mickey" Mac Donald of Phoenix, AZ.

A Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at 10 a.m. in St. Augustin's Church, Carroll Avenue, Newport. Burial will be at St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown, RI. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 in the O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, and to respect Esther's love of reading, donations can be made to the Newport Public Library, 300 Spring Street, Newport, RI 02840.