Mary Martha Gwin

Mary Martha Gwin, known as Martha or Auntie to her loved ones, was born on April 10, 1922 in Terlton, Oklahoma to Albert and Mary Gwin. After living a full 85 years, Martha passed away on Monday, March 24, 2008 in Houston, Texas.

Always a hard worker, Martha helped out on the family farm and picked cotton in her youth to help support her family after the death of her mother. As a young woman, she continued her hard work in a dry cleaning shop and later at the Hissom Memorial Center in Sand Springs, where she worked as a caregiver to handicapped children.

Though Martha never wed, nor had children of her own, she was a devoted sister, aunt and daughter. She was an important presence in the lives of her nieces and nephews and also cared for her father in his later years. Always close to her family members, she made a point of being present at important milestones in the lives of her nieces and nephews. She was even there with her sisters Harriett and Elsie to watch the children taste their first chocolate sodas!

The close relationship between Martha and her sisters continued on throughout their lives. She always lived very near them and even retired with her younger sister, Elsie on a farm in Oklahoma. They would frequently come together to garden and cook. At family gatherings, there was never a shortage of delicious food.

After the passing of her sister Elsie and Elsie's husband, Lloyd, Martha lived with her nephew, Larry, and his wife, Mary. During those last years of her life, she whipped her nephew's house into tip-top shape, tirelessly taking expert care of Larry and Mary's dogs and tidying up wherever she went. She was particularly attached to Scrappy, the red dachshund, who will miss her constant presence.

Though many slow down in their eighties, Martha remained active and curious, and continued to discover many of life's joys. She dined out frequently with Larry and Mary, discovering a new love of exotic cuisine, her favorite of which was Vietnamese. In addition, she became Mary's partner in crime at the shopping mall, but her exploits did not stop there. She also took her first plane ride to California to see her great-nephew, Brad and his wife, Jenifer, as well as making her first trip abroad to visit her great niece, Krista's, family in Southern France.

Martha was the last remaining child of Albert and Mary Gwin. She was preceded in death by her oldest brother, Delmont, and his wife, Naomi, her other brother Nathaniel, her older sister Harriett, and later by her younger sister, Elsie, and Elsie's husband, Lloyd, who was like a brother to her.

She is survived by and will be missed by her nieces and nephews Jack Gwin of Houston, Texas; Larry Collins and wife, Mary, of Cypress, Texas, Janice Rowe and husband, Mike, of Tyler, Texas, Joe Gwin and wife Karen of Farmersville, Texas

She is also survived by several great-nieces and great-nephews, who she adored.

She will be remembered for her kindness and her gentle heart, as well as her passionate love of crosswords and sports of all kinds. If a college or professional game could be found on the television, she would surely be watching. She was a virtual encyclopedia of sports teams and players, her favorites being the Houston Rockets and the Houston Astros.

After and long and full life, Martha has gone home to be with her family and her Lord. Those she has left behind will continue to count their blessings for having had the chance to know her.