Mary Martin's Obituary
Mary Jo Martin, daughter of Dr. Richard and Sina May Lehmanowsky Williams, was born October 28, 1909, in Anselmo, Nebraska. She departed this life Thursday, August 28, 2008, in Northridge Place, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-eight years, and ten months. On June 27, 1935, she was united in marriage to Joseph F. Martin, and this union was blessed with one daughter. She and Joseph shared almost fifty-two years together before his passing on March 19, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Hunter A. Groenewold; two brothers, Norman and Richard; and two sisters, Frances and Charlotte. Mary Jo is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mildred “Marty” and Ben Groenewold, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two granddaughters, Kimberley Mumford, of Bellevue, Washington, and Kelley Mather, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; five great-granddaughters, Christine, Marisa-Clair, Elizabeth, Virginia-Kate, and Emma; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. She was born and raised in Nebraska, and then moved with her family to Laclede County, Missouri, where she graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1928. During her senior year of school, she was crowned Queen of the Magnet, and was, until her passing, the oldest Miss Magnet still living. She then went to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take nurses training at Morning Side Hospital, which is now known as Hillcrest Hospital, the same hospital where her oldest granddaughter and one of her great-granddaughters were born many years later. She earned her Registered Nursing Degree in 1931. She stayed in Tulsa for a few years, and then returned to the Lebanon area in 1934 to help with the start of Louise G. Wallace Hospital. While working at the hospital, she met and soon married Joe, and they made their home in Lebanon and lovingly raised their daughter. Throughout the years, Mary Jo held various positions in the nursing field, including surgical supervisor, Industrial Nurse for the Rice-Stix Factory, a Head Start Nurse, and office nurse for Drs. Johnson and Carrington. She later served as Laclede County Public Health Nurse for many years, and especially enjoyed visiting the country schools. In 1970, she retired from nursing. Mary Jo was a member of First Baptist Church in Lebanon for more then seventy years. She belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star and White Shrine for many years, and she and Joe enjoyed working with the Rainbow Girls. She was also a charter member of the Lebanon Round Table Club. She and Joe both enjoyed playing golf during their retirement years, and she spent her spare time crocheting, cooking, reading mysteries, and doing home interior design work. Her family was very important to her and she greatly enjoyed having her family around her. Mary Jo was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and all that she accomplished and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday August 30, 2008 at the Mt. Rose Chapel Mausoleum. Entombment will be in the Mt. Rose Memorial Park Mausoleum. Visitation will follow the service under the direction of the Holman- Howe Funeral Home Lebanon, Missouri.A memorial has been established to Regional Hospice and donations may be made through the funeral home. Return to top
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