Martha Mae (Nettles ) Martin

Martha Mae (Nettles) Martin, of Oletha, passed away on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at Skilled Care Nursing in Mexia, at age 85.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 1, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Brother Richard Williams and Brother Clif Fox, of the Church of Christ of Groesbeck officiating. The eulogy was given by her grandson, Michael Martin of Bryan. Burial followed in the Old Union Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Michael Martin, Jared Nettles, Russell Lynn Scott, James Howard Scott, Butch Hughes and Matt Lee. Honorary pallbearers were Stanley Boyd, Kelley Boyd, Kyle Thompson, Mack Jones, Greg Gonzales and Randy Ingram.

Martha was born to parents Leslie and Raye (Thomason) Nettles on March 12, 1933, the first of six children. She was born and grew up in the Old Union community and attended school in Oletha and Thornton.

Martha was united in marriage with Guy “Red” Martin Jr. on April 23, 1951, with the wedding taking place in Mexia, in the dark, on the preacher’s front porch. They lived in Groesbeck, Old Union, and mostly in Oletha, where they raised their three children, Jayne, Wayne and Layne. They started their life together in the farm house that belonged to Martha’s grandmother, at least the part remaining of it after other family members had torn off parts of it to make their own houses. When it became “too open” to the elements, they built their home in the Oletha community.

Martha was a member of the Church of Christ, having attended at Old Union, Southside, Old Union community, and Groesbeck, along with her three children from their infancy. At the age of 13 years, she was baptized along with her Daddy and others, during a summer meeting at Old Union, which was held outside on wooden benches by Brother Malcolm Smith. They were baptized in a stock tank owned by a neighbor, which was the norm back then.

Martha was a loving wife, mother and homemaker. She took pride in being an excellent cook and seamstress, making most of her and her daughter Jayne’s clothes and also some of the boy’ clothes. She raised chickens, selling some eggs, and catching and dressing chickens for family meals. She loved gardening, raising a large vegetable garden producing enough to feed several families. She also kept her yard and flower beds looking like a picture. Martha also worked at the Agriculture Extension office at the Courthouse, at Varo in Mexia, and the Mexia State School, retiring from the state after 13 years.

Martha and Red always supported their community, helping in the construction of the first Oletha Community Center and serving on the Board of Directors of the Old Union/Cox Cemeteries and supporting the McKenzie and Ferguson Cemeteries. They also assisted in the construction of the Old Union Community Church of Christ building.

Martha was an artist, with her oil paintings hanging in several homes including her own. She was a member of the Thornton and Groesbeck Art Club, and a member of the Home Extension Agency Club. She also taught Sunday school when the children were small.

Martha and Red were married 67 years. They had celebrated their 25th and 50th anniversaries at their home with family, friends and neighbors present. The parties were hosted by their children and planned and coordinated mostly by Jayne, who in her own right is also an artist.

Martha suffered from crippling arthritis many years of her life, and suffered constant pain, as well as the emotional pain of not being able to do all the things she had worked faithfully to accomplish for her home and family. However, with the aid of husband Red, she faithfully attended church, was a neighbor, and always took great pride in looking perfect in her appearance, which was always an encouragement to all who saw her.

In 2012, Martha and Red faced the tragedy no parent wants to face in losing their dear son, Layne Martin. Martha was also preceded in death first by her parents; her brothers-in-law Joe Lincecum and Tommy Ticknor; nephew Scott Nettles; son-in-law Howard Irby; and her brother, Perry Nettles.

Survivors include her husband, Red Martin; daughter Jayne Irby, of Golden; son Wayne Martin, of Thornton; grandchildren Michael Martin and wife Emily, of Bryan, Kendall Martin, of Thornton, Cheyenne and husband Matt Lee, of Old Union, Carla Dominguez and husband Mario, of Kosse; Christen Costin and husband Daniel, of Colorado; and five great-grandchildren, newborn Braygan Oakley Lee, Tyler Hodgeson, Braxton Dominguez, Mia Dominguez and Calli Costin. Also, she leaves behind four sisters, Jean Nettles, Jo Nettles Boyd and husband Stanley Boyd, Pat Nettles Lincecum and Billie Nettles Ticknor; sister-in-law Karen Nettles; and nieces and nephews and other extended family.

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