Lucile Martin

Lucile Martin, 102, of Grand Island, died on Thursday, January 22, 2015, at Primrose Retirement Community. Lucile’s final gift was to donate her body to the University of Nebraska Medical School for the education and research of future generations. Memorial services will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28 at First Presbyterian Church. Pastor Doug McHargue will officiate. All Faiths Funeral Home is serving the family more details will follow. Survivors include her children, Carol (Bob) Noah of Kenyon, MN; Dianne (Dave) Barker of Springfield, MO; Lanny (Sharon) Martin of Denver, CO; Dr. Tom (Kathy) Martin of Omaha, NE; Janet (Dale) Benson of Worms, NE; daughter –in-law, Vera Martin of Bella Vista, AR; 18 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; 7 great -great grandchildren, and their spouses brother Lewis Cooley of Lincoln, NE; and sister Betty Malmleaf of Largo, FL. She is preceded in death by her husband Jack in 1981, daughter Marilyn, son Les, and her sisters Marian Althouse, Kathryn Cooley, and Margaret Cooley. Lucile was born September 30, 1912 in Waverly to Edward and Edith (Landis) Cooley. Lucile married John “Jack” Martin on April 11, 1931. After Mr. Martin graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln they resided in St. Edward, Loup City, and Grand Island, where Jack taught high school vocational agriculture. After moving to Broken Bow for a year, they returned to Grand Island in 1944 where they lived for the rest of their lives. Lucile graduated from Waverly high school and attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln through her junior year. In addition to raising seven children, Lucile was very active in her community. She was a long-time member of the Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school and served as an elder and deacon. Lucile also spent many years volunteering at the St. Francis Memorial Hospital. She also volunteered at YWCA programs including one called Giggles, which served disadvantaged 5th and 6th grade girls. Lucile was also a past member of the PEO, Chapter CK. For many years Lucile took regular walks with neighborhood friends who became known as the Bag Ladies or Can-Can Girls because of their practice of retrieving and recycling discarded soda cans found on their walk. She enjoyed the physical exercise as well as the incessant teasing “the girls” happily received for their anti-litter work. Lucile and Jack placed a high value on education. They were very proud that all their children graduated from Grand Island Senior High and went on to attend college. In honor of their parents, the Martin children established the Jack Martin Scholarships (1998) and the Lucile Martin Dream Scholarships (2012) at Grand Island Senior High School in loving honor of their parents. For the past 15 years Lucile took pleasure in meeting the over 65 scholarship recipients and hearing about their plans for the future. In a 1992 interview with one of her granddaughters, Lucile said that she hoped the tradition of annual family gatherings would continue for years to come so that “cousins, first, second, etc. and aunts and uncles etc. get acquainted and learn to enjoy each other; sharing of experiences, playing together, laughing together and just being together creates memories that make life better for all of us.” Lucile and her family have had twenty-six consecutive annual gathers since that interview. Over 80 of Lucile’s progeny and their spouses attended the May, 2014 gathering in Omaha. Lucile’s family would like to thank the caring staff at Primrose Retirement Community and AseraCare Hospice for making her a part of their families. Memorials are suggested for the Grand Island Senior High School Education Foundation, the First Presbyterian Church, the American Red Cross, or to a charity of your choice.

Lucile Martin

September 30, 1912 - January 22, 2015

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Lucile Martin

September 30, 1912 - January 22, 2015

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support