Martha Dee Martin of Dallas, Texas passed away on June 27, 2021 at the age of 88. She was born on February 22, 1933 to Corry Rae and Martha Elizabeth (Burkhart) Spears in Quanah, Texas. Martha married Marion Edwin Martin on August 13, 1951.
Martha grew up in Dallas, Texas, where she enjoyed sports, music and art. At the age of 13, she committed her life to her Savior, Jesus Christ at a revival meeting. Martha graduated with honors from Crozier Tech High School in 1950, the same year her father died. She then worked for Internal Revenue Service to help support her mother and younger brother, David.
She met the love of her life, ‘Sonny’ Ed Martin, and they married in 1951. Sonny was stationed at the Naval Base in Alameda, CA, where their son, Stephen, was born. While Sonny was deployed aboard a carrier ship during the Korean War, Martha moved back to Dallas to live near family. After leaving the Navy, Sonny returned to Dallas, where their daughter, Paula, was born. They made their home in Garland, Texas, and raised their children there.
Martha took her children to New Liberty Baptist Church at a young age, where they learned about Jesus and accepted His gift of grace. The Martin family enjoyed serving in that church for many years. Martha passed on her appreciation for art to her son, Stephen and her musical appreciation to her daughter, Paula. She loved and encouraged their talents in the arts and in sports all through their school years.
She was known as "Marty" to her coworkers and friends, Martha Dee and Aunt DeDe to her Spears family, Aunty Marty or Aunt Martha to her Martin family. She remained close to the families of her sisters and brothers all of their lives. Her nieces and nephews were very special to her, Martha Sue Gibson Newman, Elsa Lynn Spears Cook, Terry Alan Ileng, Theresa Jo Spears McKee, David Alan Spears, Laura Jean Spears Pompa, Linda Michelle Spears Myers, Jennifer Ruth Ilseng Norris, and her husband's niece, Ann Casey.
Mom and Dad loved their neighborhood friends and were active in the Casa Linda Forest neighborhood association. She especially enjoyed her “BINGO” group of ladies that gathered monthly for an evening of fun! Her friends in the neighborhood took care of one another over the years.
She is survived by her son, Stephen Edwin Martin and wife, Joni of Pottsboro, Texas; daughter, Paula Sue Till and husband, Robert of Blue Ridge, Texas; five grandchildren; Ryan Edwin Martin and wife, Alicia; Christin Joy Lander and husband, Clint; Ashlee Nicole Mann and husband, Mike; Kyle Wade Martin; Justin Robert Till and wife, Lexi.
Martha also has six great grandchildren: William Barksdale IV, Troy and Landon Campbell, Harvey & Myles Lander, and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Till - and many other loving family members and friends.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Corry Rae and Martha Elizabeth Spears; husband, Marion Edwin Martin (Sonny); brothers, Sammy Clifton Spears, David Leon Spears, Horace Edgar Spears, and Floyd D. Spears; and sisters, Billie Ruth Gibson, Virginia Sue Ilseng, and Beth Dunlap.
For the last three years of her life, Marty lived at Harbor Chase of McKinney. Our family is grateful for how the Harbor Chase family cared for her with dignity, love and respect in her final years. Some have even said that Harbor Chase was going to be mighty boring without her!
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at the funeral home. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Martha’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/martha-dee-martin. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location.
Interment will follow at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas at 1:00 P.M.