Mary Jo Martin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Graveside services for Mary Jo Martin will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2021, at the Alva Municipal Cemetery with Rev. Paul Kirk officiating. Interment is under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Masks are requested at the service. The service will be live streamed on the Marshall Funeral Home Facebook page. Viewing will be Thursday, January 28 at the funeral home from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm. Mary Jo (Stewart) Martin passed away peacefully on Monday, January 25, 2021 at the age of 89. She was a loving wife, mother, grandma and great-grandma. She will be greatly missed. Mary Jo was born on January 12, 1932 in Anthony, Kansas to Minnie and Walter Stewart. While attending school in Anthony, she participated in numerous activities and organizations and was the piano accompanist for several music groups. She was the co-salutatorian of her graduating class. After high school, Mary Jo went to Emporia State College, where she met Robert (Bob) Martin. They were married on April 20, 1952, and made their home in Chanute, Kansas, where both of their children, Bob Jr. and Dana, were born. Mary Jo and Bob moved to Alva in 1958. Mary Jo stayed home with the children until 1962, when she went to work as a legal secretary for attorney Richard Downer. It was originally meant to be a temporary position, but after seeing many lawyers come and go, Mary Jo finally retired from her “temporary job” 56 years later, in 2018! She loved her job and the fact that it gave her the opportunity to meet and help so many people. In her younger years, she loved playing bridge, bowling in a league, and dancing with Bob. Together, they enjoyed going to NWOSU football and basketball games. After their grandsons were born, many weekends were spent going to soccer, t-ball, baseball and football games. Mary Jo was a wonderful cook and enjoyed cooking for her family. Her most “famous” dishes included pot roast, lasagna, spaghetti, homemade chicken noodles, and lemon meringue pie. In later years she also enjoyed doing crosswords and reading, as well as watching the OKC Thunder and the Dallas Cowboys play ball. She was beloved by her great-grandchildren, who liked to dance, sing, talk and read with her. Mary was also a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Alva, where she served in many different capacities. Mary Jo is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bob; son, Bob Jr, and one brother and his wife, Bob and Neva Stewart. She is survived by her daughter, Dana Golbek of Kingfisher, OK; two grandsons and their wives, Eric and Requil Golbek, and their children Ethan, Andrew, and Emily of Tulsa, OK; and Mark and Chelsea Golbek and their children Cord and Chloe of Kingfisher, OK. Mary Jo is also survived by 7 nieces and nephews who reside in Colorado and Kansas, and many friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name under the direction of the funeral home to the First Presbyterian Church of Alva or the NWOSU Foundation.

Mary Jo Martin

January 12, 1932 - January 25, 2021