Martha Staples Newsome 81, long time resident of Southern Berkshire County, died at home surrounded by her loving family and pets on February 16, 2015. She was born on November 1, 1933 in Fall River, Mass., daughter of William Frank and Marjorie Wolfe Staples. After graduating from Olean High School, Martha attended Boston University and received her Associates Degree from Katherine Gibbs.
Martha’s varied and notable accomplishments included covering the Cuban Revolution for El Centro magazine, and working as an administrator for Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in New Jersey before moving the family to the Berkshires to be with her father. She left her position at Avalon School to help start Eagleton School, was owner of Ryan’s Florist for 13 years, driving founder and president of Stockbridge Road Association, lead organizer of Partners with Farmers Concert that included an appearance by Arlo Guthrie. Ryan’s Florist grew into a thriving local family business until the doors closed in 1993. She continued working for local retail businesses and returned to Eagleton School until her retirement in 2009.
Martha’s passion for the performing arts lead her to ballet dancing with her daughters, performing in local community theater in New Jersey. She sang and loved playing patriotic and Christmas music on the piano. She was an avid lover of nature, animals, gardening, skiing and her children. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and an active member of the Choir at CMLC.
Martha is survived by three daughters, Sandra Levin and her husband Gregory of Eliot, Maine, Linda Sahaj and her husband Steven of Erie, Colo., and Christine Newsome of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sons, William P. (Skip) Newsome III and his wife Alicia of Otis and Barrett Newsome and his wife Elizabeth Vizentin of Leeds, Mass.; and six grandchildren, Benjamin, Emma, Jacqueline, Stephen, Christoph and Lilianna.
Funeral Services for Martha Staples Newsome will be Friday, February 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 29 Main St., Stockbridge, Mass., with the Rev. Libby Wade officiating. Burial will be in Sandisfield Center Cemetery in the spring with a celebration of her life to follow immediately at her home in Sandisfield. Family will receive friends at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South St., Great Barrington MA 01230, Thursday, February 19 from 4-7 p.m. Donations can be made in Martha’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
