Laura K. Foley, 21, of Jefferson, died in a single-vehicle crash on Route 126 in Jefferson the night of Sunday, June 23. An artist, musician, and employee of Sheepscot General in Whitefield, she was described by a manager as “always full of joy.”
Foley was driving a 2001 Subaru Forester east on Route 126, near Hinks Road, at the time of the crash. She was going around a bend in the road when the vehicle left the road and struck several trees, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Brendan Kane said. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Investigators believe speed and driver inexperience were factors in the crash, according to Kane. An accident reconstructionist will determine how fast the vehicle was going.
Foley was wearing a seat belt.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Fire and Rescue, and Waldoboro Emergency Services, as well as an accident reconstructionist from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the crash.
Route 126 was closed during the investigation.
The Lincoln County Communications Center received a report of the crash at 7:59 p.m.
An obituary on the website of the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home in Salem, N.H. states that Foley grew up and went to school in Salem. She graduated from Salem High School in 2016.
After high school, Foley attended the University of Maine at Orono in the School of Performing Arts.
The general manager of Sheepscot General, Penny Moshier, said Foley worked at the farm store in Whitefield for a little over a year, both in the kitchen and on the cash register.
“Laura had a very warm, open personality. She was always happy,” Moshier said.
In addition to Foley being “always full of joy,” her manager said, she brought her creative talents to her work.
“Her attention to detail was amazing, and she created beautiful pieces of food,” Moshier said, adding that Foley had a special talent for making pies.
“She had an amazing Instagram page, where she made the most beautiful, artistic food. It left me in awe,” Moshier said.
Outside work, Foley was a talented artist and musician.
“Laura was a uniquely talented artist in a variety of expressions. Music and song were her earliest loves, and fulfilled her throughout her life,” her obituary says. “She soon added painting, photography, cooking, baking, creating artisan gifts and remembrances, spiritual philosophy, social inspiration and so much more.”
Sheepscot General hosts a monthly art show. Foley shared a collection of her work during a recent exhibit of employee art.
Christine LaPado-Breglia, arts and lifestyle editor for The Lincoln County News, reviewed the show in her “Lincoln County Artsbeat” column.
The column notes that Foley shared a collection of paintings, mostly of celebrities, such as actresses Marion Cotillard, Keira Knightley, and Liv Tyler, and iconic “bad boys” James Dean and Elvis Presley.
Moshier said that Foley played various styles of music, mostly covers of songs she liked.
“I think all of us here would like to add that she was a big part of what made this place so special, and she will be really sorely missed and always remembered,” Moshier said.
