Martha L. Heft

Martha Louise Heft, 102, of Clearwater, FL, passed away January 24, 2021. Born at home on November 8, 1918, in Caledonia, OH, to Harlowe and Amanda Hipsher. She grew up on an 80-acre farm in Edison, OH, where a team of horses worked the fields to provide food for dairy cows, chickens and sheep. She completed early education in a one-room school, and her family attended church by horse and buggy on Sundays. After graduating from Edison High School in 1936, she attended business school in Columbus, OH, where she was set up on a blind date with the man who would later become her lifelong partner for 70 years.

Martha and William (Bill) married in 1938, in Ft. Wayne, IN, later moved to Newton Falls, OH, where they purchased an 8-acre farm. Martha enjoyed tending to her beautiful flower gardens, sewing, baking, and always having a prepared meal ready for her family each evening. She was a woman of faith and active in the First Christian Church where she held various positions; a Sunday School teacher, a member of the choir, an Elder, and organizer of church dinners, rummage sales and fundraisers. She also found time for PTA and helping neighbors. Martha was always well dressed in coordinating shoes and sparkling jewelry (Bling!).

The family looked forward to summer vacations which Martha and Bill continued once they became empty nesters. From an Alaskan cruise to the Hawaiian Islands eventually reaching Russia, Europe and the Panama Canal.

Martha and Bill eventually moved to Serendipity MHP in Clearwater, FL, in 1989. Martha was active in her community where she organized Morning Coffee Hour, baked cakes for shuffle board players, enjoyed BINGO, and served on the park board as Secretary. At 92, she experienced the trip of her lifetime, traveling to Israel with her church group. Even though she was the eldest, for some of her fellow travelers, keeping up with her enthusiastic energy was a challenge. Martha would often talk about this trip, yearning to return – especially, to Jerusalem. Martha was a member of Heritage United Methodist Church (UMC) and its quilt group. Her passion for sewing went from making school clothes for her three daughters to sewing more than 1,100 quilts which she mostly donated to Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas. In addition, she sewed dresses and quilts for the children of Haiti and Puerto Rico. She was recognized as an Everyday Hero and was featured on TV for her contribution to the community’s children and their families, on several occasions.

Martha, affectionately known as Gigi, loved her family and was proud of each of them. She brought out the best in everyone and was always appreciative for everything she had. She was positive, happy and gracious. For the past year and a half, she was a resident at The Landmark in Clearwater where she doted on the dining room servers and staff; people with whom she considered friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her younger sister Barbara Grasmehr; sons-in-law, Dan Walker and James Albert. She is survived by daughters, Mary Ann Walker, Jean Albert and Nancy (Bob) Strausser; eight grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Please consider a donation in Martha’s memory to Heritage UMC for Missions at 2680 Landmark Drive, Clearwater, FL, 33761.

A private service was held for family Saturday, 1/30/2021.