Beverly F Martin

Florence Beverly Martin (Bev) passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 18, 2025 at the grand age of 103. She was born December 19, 1921, in Bakersfield, CA, to Henry (Papa) and Evelyn (Nani) Rodoni. Bev grew up in Bakersfield, graduating from Bakersfield High School and continuing her education at the University of Southern California to become a dental Hygienist. It was there she met Leo Paul Knight (Paul) who was studying to be an oral surgeon at USC. She and Paul married in 1942 and raised four children in Bakersfield: Pamela Jean, Thomas Paul, Gregory Alan, and Janine Marie.

Bev enjoyed raising her children, playing golf, traveling, and volunteering at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital which she did every Monday for more than 50 years. She played golf at Kern City golf course where her early morning lady's group were noted for playing their 18 holes each week in less than 2.5 hours (there was no evidence they were putting everything out). She began traveling after she met and married her second husband, Bill Martin. They built a vacation home in Pine Mountain where they held many happy family events. They enjoyed many trips to Hawaii and Mexico and later purchased a motor home so they could travel in their own house and take Bev's Mom, Nani, and other family members on their adventures. After Bill and Nani passed, she began travels in foreign countries with her son Tom and daughter-in-law Jo, including Greece, Italy, and the Caribbean.

Bev was a great cook having learned from her mom and aunts how to make all things Italian.

She lived on her own until after her 90th birthday when she agreed to move in with her daughter Janine, grandson Josh, and son-in-law, Dennis Paquette. She settled into life with family and continued to have her evening martini often noting to her daughter, "It's 5:00pm, where is my drink?"

Bev is survived by her sons, Thomas Knight and wife Jahanna, Gregory Knight and wife Terry, and daughter Janine Paquette, her son-in-law, John Adams, her grandchildren Sheryl and Ryan Bettencourt, Eric Knight, and Joshua Paquette. Predeceased by her grandson, David Knight, her daughter, Pamela Adams, and her son-in-law, Dennis Paquette.

Bev always had a loving smile for each and every family member and person she met. Her love, laughter, and kind nature will never be forgotten. She will be greatly missed.

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.