Muriel Mcmartin

Muriel Anza McMartin, one of three children of Mary Electa (Palmer) and James Russell Donnelly, was born on her parent's farm near Oakland, Iowa on January 15, 1920. Muriel attended country school at Valley Ridge No. 7 and high school in Oakland. In 1930, Muriel and her family moved to a farm near Neola, Iowa and she attended school in Underwood. Muriel enjoyed the farm, was active in 4-H, and loved to work with cattle. That same year she was awarded the "House Champion Ribbon" in the home raised heifer class at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Nebraska. Muriel graduated from the Underwood Community High School in 1937 and continued to live at her parent's farm.
On February 22, 1939, Muriel and William Claire McMartin were married at her parent's home. they made their home on a farm near Carson, Iowa, where Bill farmed and operated a seed corn business. Their marriage was blessed with three children; James, Kathleen, and Mary. Muriel enjoyed her role as a mother and homemaker and loved spending time in the kitchen. She was known for her angel food cakes and homemade cinnamon rolls.
Muriel was a member of the Carson United Methodist Church, the Federated Club, 20th Century Club, and Bridge Club. She and Bill both enjoyed church, family, and friends. In 1995, they moved from the farm to a home in Carson and continued to remain active in church and community events. In 2003, their health forced Muriel and Bill to move to the Oakland Manor Care Center in Oakland, Iowa where they shared a room and enjoyed fellowship with other residents.
Muriel and Bill had been married 65 years when Muriel died at the Oakland Manor on December 22, 2004 at the age of 84 years, 11 months, and 7 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Wendell Donnelly; sister Madge Read; granddaughter Jill Achenbaugh Jirak; and great-grandchildren Samantha McMartin, Kobe Moore, and Kane Jirak.
Muriel is survived by her husband Bill at Oakland Manor; son James McMartin and his wife Kaye of Oakland; daughters Kathleen Hendrix and her husband Donnie of Carson, IA, and Mary Homfeld and her husband Lester of Higginsville, MO; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.