Fairy E. (Akins) Martin

York—Fairy E. (Akins) Martin, 94, died Sunday February 16, 2014 at Lutheran Nursing and Rehabilitation Center-Sprenkle Drive. She was the wife of the late Harry A. Martin, who died February 12, 1995. A Celebration of Life Service will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday February 22, 2014 at St. Paul’s (Wolf’s) Evangelical Covenant Church, 4501 Wolf’s Church Rd, York with her pastor, the Rev. Matthew H. Stillman officiating. A viewing will be held from 12:00 to 1:30 PM, Saturday at the church. Burial will be held in St. Paul’s (Wolf’s) Union Cemetery. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Rd, York is in charge of arrangements. Born July 12, 1919 in Dover, she was a daughter of the late G. Edward and Lyda M. (Kleiser) Akins. Fairy grew up on a farm where each family member contributed to the work from early morning until nightfall. She helped with all of the farm chores—from milking the cows by hand to plowing the fields with mules. When she married the “boy next door” in 1940, they worked together raising a family and building a business, manufacturing and selling potato chips (one of the many farm products that Anna Martin, Harry’s mother, had begun making and selling at her stand in York’s City Market). The popular Martin’s Potato Chips brand was born as they began to turn this entrepreneurial experiment into a bona fide small business. Harry and Fairy worked hard to nurture it, covering any aspect of the business that was needed—from frying, to packaging, to delivering—as they expanded into other local farmers’ markets, grocery stores and restaurants. (Fairy especially enjoyed making deliveries and “pick-ups” in the company van, in which she explored the back roads of York County and beyond.) After the business was sold to Ken Potter in 1971, Fairy continued to promote Martin’s Chips at the New Eastern Market (and for much of that time with her daughter, Sharon) until her retirement in her mid-80’s. She was a member of St. Paul’s (Wolf’s) Evangelical Covenant Church (and formerly St. Paul’s U.C.C.) where she had been active in the Thomasville Seniors, the bell choir, and at the annual church picnics for many years. Fairy loved to organize long distance bus trips as well as chauffeur friends and family members to the outlet shops in Reading. She hosted neighborhood picnics/corn bakes that nurtured family and community relationships. Fairy had a green thumb (or two) for the beautiful flowers and tasty fruits and vegetables that she grew in her expansive gardens, and shared her love and knowledge of gardening as a member of the York County Society of Farm Women, Chapter 13. She loved creating weaving rugs on a loom, sewing aprons for friends at market, cooking and baking delicious foods to share, and decorating for the seasons. Fairy continued to express her creativity through her quick-witted responses as she adjusted to otherwise limiting memory issues. As she became more dependent on others in her last years, she grew to accept her limitations and became increasingly gracious in the process, expressing gratitude for visits and attention she received. Mrs. Martin is survived by three children, Doris E. Simpson and husband, Paul of Beachwood, OH, Ruth A. Fitz and husband, David of York and Vern E. Martin and wife, Darlene of Shippensburg; nine grandchildren, Martha and Shannon Simpson Baldwin, Kathryn White, Vanessa Fitz-Kesler, Erika Fitz, Christopher and Jeremy Fitz and Matthew and Alexander Forsythe; nine great grandchildren; one brother, Harry “Hap” Akins of York; two sisters, Charlotte Hoffman of Stoverstown and Margaret Geisler of York and several nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by an infant son; a daughter, Sharon M. Forsythe; one brother, Charles Akins, and an infant sister, Beulah Akins. The family expresses its gratitude for all the gifted caregivers who have helped to make Fairy’s life a bit easier these past few years. We appreciate the love expressed through your sensitivity and gentle touch. Memorial contributions may be made to any charitable organization that would honor Fairy.