Susan Katherine Waller of Farmington, Me. died on Feb. 17 of Covid-19. She was 79.
She was born on Sept. 12, 1942 in Wayland, the second of eight children of John K. and Laura Hofmann Ferguson. She grew up in the Cochituate area of Wayland and spent her summers on the family farm in New Durham, N.H.
She received her undergradate degree from the State College at Framingham and her master’s degree from Boston College.
After college, she was introduced to Martha’s Vineyard by a classmate who would become Janice Belisle of Edgartown. While on the Island, Susan met her future husband, Vineyard native Robert Waller. They were married on April 8, 1967 and would have celebrated 55 years of marriage this April.
Susan and Robert built their home on a part of the Waller farm, located on the Edgartown Great Plains. Their son Christian was born in 1970. A few years later, she began teaching first grade in Vineyard Haven. She would continue there for nearly 30 years, forming the bulk of her teaching career.
Teaching first grade was her passion. She was fascinated and delighted by the transformation that took place in her students between September and June. She loved all her pupils and always tried to make sure that they were prepared for the next step in the educational process. She admired, respected and made many lasting friendships among her colleagues in the Martha’s Vineyard school system. This was particularly true of those in Vineyard Haven — feelings that were generously reciprocated in return.
As they neared retirement, she and Robert made the decision to relocate. After much searching they chose Farmington, Me. The new home they built is less than a quarter-mile from the New Vineyard, Me. town line. New Vineyard was first settled in 1791 when a quarter of the Martha’s Vineyard population moved there. In a way, the Wallers had come home again.
Early in her retirement, Susan volunteered for various charitable organizations in Farmington. She also participated in many of her church’s activities. She loved the University of Maine, Farmington (UMF) senior college programs, presentations and shows. She spent many happy hours in the Mantor and Farmington libraries. Chester Greenwood Day, the Fourth of July parades, the agricultural fair and the Wilton Blueberry Festival were all great favorites. All her life she had a great love for the arts, literature, history and nature; she never missed an opportunity to visit a museum, concert, presentation or enjoy the wonders of nature.
Last August, when her son Christian was hired after a nationwide search to be Farmington’s new town manager, she was almost overwhelmed. Her biggest disappointment would have been that she did not live to see all of his children and his wife make the transition from Indianapolis to Farmington.
In addition to her husband Robert, she is survived by sisters Nancy Meekins and her husband Roy, Christine Evans of New Durham, N.H., Margaret Ferguson of Cochituate; and her brothers John and his companion Janice Ferguson of Wollaston, Charles (Nancy) Ferguson and his wife Nancy of Malden, and Andrew Ferguson and his wife Wendy of King George, Va. She is also survived by her son Christian Waller and his wife Karen; and grandchildren Katherine Louise, Savannah Grace, Abigail Marie, Ellen Sophia Partridge, James Kenneth and Fiona Noel Waller, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by two deeply loved and dearest friends, Robert’s sister Allouise Morgan and his cousin Marna Waller, both of Edgartown.
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