Obituary for Marjorie Martin

Marjorie Martin

October 29, 1921 – February 22, 2023

Marjorie Frances Masters Martin, at 101 years young, passed away on February 2, 2023 in Guthrie, OK. She will be laid to rest during a private, family ceremony at Odd Fellow’s Cemetery in Ponca City, OK. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave., Ponca City, OK, 74601.

Marjorie, or Marge as many called her was born on October 29, 1921, in Weddington, Arkansas, the fourth of eight children born to Guy and Marinda Masters. Marjorie graduated from Siloam Springs High School and later from Business College in Joplin, Mo. With the start of WWII, she moved to Tulsa, OK and began working for Douglas Aircraft in the secretarial pool, contributing to the war effort. After the war, she worked for Stanolind Oil Company. Marjorie had many fond memories and stories to share of those first years in Tulsa as a single working woman. She lived in a boarding house for women, she was a member of the Boston Avenue Methodist Church and active in their YF group, enjoyed many dances and traveled all over the United States by train several times with tour groups and in particular, the Starlight Campers. Her eyes always sparkled when she regaled us with her many tales of adventures.

In the mid 1950s, her sparkle caught the eye of Theodore (Ted) Tucker Martin at a YMCA dance. Ted, who also worked for Stanolind Oil & Gas, was in Tulsa on a business trip which turned into many trips thereafter. Marjorie married Ted on December 17, 1955, and in addition to Ted, gained two beautiful step-daughters, Tana and Karen. After they married, Marjorie and Ted moved to Brownsville, TX, where Ted worked at the Stanolind Oil & Gas Refinery and Marjorie worked for the Border Patrol. Later, Ted was transferred to Tulsa and in 1958, Marjorie and Ted added their daughter, Debbie, to the family. Around 1961, they moved to Ponca City, OK, where Ted launched his long career with Continental Oil Company as a Research Chemist, while Marjorie so graciously and lovingly took care of Debbie and Ted, managing the household and tackling the numerous never-ending tasks of caring for a family without nary a complaint.

Marjorie was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ponca City, the Ponca City Garden Club and an Organic Food Co-Op way before Organic became so popular. Raised on a farm during the depression, Marjorie was quite a resourceful and skilled bargain hunter and had a great love and passion for gardening. Marjorie always had a beautiful flower and delicious vegetable garden. In fact, she continued gardening until she was 90 sharing the most delicious tomatoes, peppers, squash, and okra, which we all looked forward to every summer.

After Ted passed in 1994, Marjorie continued living in Ponca City. Then in 2006, she moved to Bradford Village Retirement Community in Edmond, OK, to be closer to her daughter, Debbie. Marjorie lived at Bradford Village for over 10 years, enjoying many friendships and fun social activities. In 2017, due to her declining health, Marjorie moved to Golden Age Nursing Home in Guthrie, OK.

Marjorie was preceded in death by: her father and mother; all of her siblings, Charlotte, Delmer, Thelma, Ray, Katherine, Calvin and Johnny; her husband, Ted; and her step-daughter, Tana Allen. Marjorie is survived by: her step-daughter, Karen Monahan; daughter, Debbie Tyler; grandchildren, Michael, Eric, Stephanie, Denise, Andrea and Allie; many great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and her first cousin, Ruth Lee Loper.

In Marjorie’s 101 years, she experienced the Great Depression, learning to drive, traveling independently by train and airplane, the discovery of Penicillin, WWII and the eradication of Polio. She enjoyed the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, the popularity of Radio and Television, many different fashions, hairstyles and saddle oxford shoes. She saw many changes and historic events which included Civil Rights, desegregation, the Assassination of JF Kennedy, the U.S. landing of the first man on the Moon, the Vietnam War, Watergate, the U.S. Bicentennial, portable phones, computers, the attack on the World Trade Center and she witnessed the first Black President of the United States be elected to office. As you can see, Marjorie lived a good and full life. Marjorie was well loved and shared her love with others through her many thoughtful and loving deeds of kindness. We will miss her sparkling eyes, love, laugher and especially her sassy spunk and feisty self!

Source: Trout Funeral Home