QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. - MaryAnne Martin, 87, died peacefully at home Jan. 10, 2010, surrounded by family.
She was born Sept. 2, 1922, in Warsaw, to Charles and Rosella Robbins. In March 1946, she married Jack Russell Martin, who died in 1966.
She lived the last 15 years with Parkinson's disease. Her grandchildren cared for her in Lafayette as her disease progressed. Then she moved to Texas and later Arizona with her eldest daughter, Terry. Her granddaughter, Lisa, relocated from Indiana to Arizona to provide round-the-clock care so she could enjoy her last years at home watching the birds and being comforted by a multitude of pets.
After she attended a year at Ball State, Muncie, she and Jack moved to Wales, Great Britain, from 1948-49.
Called back to Warsaw, she worked in her home town. The couple moved to Anderson, which became their home for more than a decade. She worked at Recreation Equipment in the accounts receivable/payable department.
She and Jack developed many close friendships in Anderson. She kept her dancing skills fresh by attending policeman's balls and other town socials. Anderson is also where she cultivated her love for roses.
They moved to Lafayette in 1966, where the couple lived the rest of their lives together. She balanced the books at Purdue's Bursar's office and later, Koehler's Nursery.
In addition to plants, near to her heart were civil rights, women's rights and animals' rights. She opened her home and her heart to animals, family and family friends who needed support or just a loving port in a storm. So it was with those who rotated through her front door. She gave them a safe place to grow and encouraged them to learn the skills needed for their success and happiness.
Surviving are daughter, Terry (and spouse Rick) Milligan, Queen Creek, and LuAnne (and spouse Steve) Ryall, Weare, N.H.; grandchildren: Donald Bookout, Lafayette; Lisa Bookout (and fiancé Brett Grey), Queen Creek; Denny (and spouse Sarah) Bookout, Crawfordsville; Tommy (and spouse Andrea) Bookout, Battleground; Patrick (and spouse Elisha) Milligan, Katy, Texas; and Ashley Ryall, Boston, Mass.; 15 great-grandchildren; 18 great-great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces (greats included); her sister, Margie Richardson; and Margie's children. She was preceded in death by a sister, Patty Robbins Walker.
A tribute to her life and the legacy she created will take place at the home of her grandson, Denny Bookout, April 17. This reflection of MaryAnne's life follows the internment of her ashes beside her beloved husband, Jack Martin, at Springvale Cemetery, in Lafayette.
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Memorials may be made to the Heifer International at http://www.heifer.org - select a contribution toward the Gift of Trees or WILD, Women in Livestock Development which provides income to support the education of girls and women; or The National Parkinson Foundation at https://www.parkinson.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=281.
For more information about her life celebration, contact LuAnne Ryall at luieryall@comcast.net or call Denny Bookout at 765-714-2249.
