MARTIN, Mary

MARY I. MARTIN 1926 – 2024 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” Proverbs 31:30 NIV MARY IRIS MARTIN of Coaldale, the beloved wife of the late Lester Roy Martin passed away peacefully after a brief illness with her family at her side on January 6, 2024, at the age of 97. She is now safely in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom she loved so much. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God was an inspiration to those who met her, and it was this faith that ultimately gave her peace at the time of her passing.
Besides her loving husband Lester to whom she was married for almost 60 years, she was predeceased by her brother Clayton and her sister Jessie.
She is survived by her children Ben (Laurel) Martin, Patricia (Everett) Nowlin, Derek (Debbie) Martin; brother Ted; grandchildren Joel (Ryleen) Nowlin, Josh (Meghan) Nowlin, Rebekah (Ryan) Bowlds, Patricia (Jaime) Petty, Nicole (Max) Joyal and Trevor (Heather) Martin. She is also the proud great grandmother to: Isabel, Fin and Vivian Nowlin; Brandon, Logan and Ryan Petty; Jackson and Samuel Bowlds; Ayden, Cohen and Tristan Joyal; Jonathan Martin, Kaylee (Elbert) Beekman, and Kassia Martel.
Mary was born August 24, 1926, in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan to Lillian and Cecil Johnson. The family moved to Lethbridge the following year but in search of greener pastures moved to the homestead west of Wetaskiwin in 1933, returning once again to Lethbridge in 1941. Mary attended the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, graduating in 1945. During this year her father died in a tragic workplace accident while he was employed with the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was in Lethbridge where she met and married the love of her life Lester resulting in this wonderful family. The family spent a few years on the family farm near Grassy Lake, but farming proved difficult, and the family moved back to Lethbridge in the mid 60’s. Once back in Lethbridge Mary worked as a bookkeeper for various businesses: Williams Tanner Bell accountants; YWCA; Case Power and Equipment; Bow River Irrigation District.
Mary was a kind and gentle soul who seldom uttered an unkind word. She enjoyed knitting and needlepoint, playing the piano, cooking for her family, and camping, but her happiest time was when the family was together as a group. She was dearly loved by her family and had a very strong faith and a firm belief in God. She was an active member of First Baptist Church where she was a regular attender until her health failed her. She loved attending bible studies and singing in the choir and her lovely voice was often heard around the house when she played the piano.
A Celebration of Mary’s Life will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Dr. Bruce Martin, officiating.
To watch the service via livestream, please go to https://www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/Mary-Martin and scroll to the bottom of the obituary page.
Burial to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.
The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the nursing staff on 4A as well as Dr. Walton, Dr. Orr, Dr. John Geers, and Dr. Justin Steed. We will be eternally grateful for the kind and compassionate care our mother received while at Sunny South Lodge in Coaldale.
Visit www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.