Linda Sue Martin

Linda Sue Martin, 81, passed away on April 21, 2026. She was born on June 15, 1944, to Kermit and Bernice Carlisle. Linda was the middle child of five siblings, a position that perhaps shaped the warm, grounding presence she would carry throughout her entire life.

Linda was united in marriage to the love of her life, Dennis Martin, and together they built a life full of love and family. After Dennis's passing in 2003, Linda demonstrated the same resilience and grace that defined her character, living independently and fully for 23 years, a testament to the fiery, self-reliant spirit that all who knew her came to admire.

Her faith was the cornerstone of her life. A devoted Catholic, Linda drew strength and purpose from her relationship with God, and it showed in the way she cared for others. She had a deep and abiding love for people in need, and she lived that love out in the most tangible ways. For years, she opened her home as a foster parent to infants, offering the warmth, safety, and tenderness that every baby deserves. With her own hands, she knitted washcloths and blankets, donating them faithfully to local hospitals and charities; quiet acts of love that touched more lives than she ever knew.

At home, Linda found joy in the simple and the beautiful. Her garden was her sanctuary, where tulips and irises bloomed each season under her careful tending. She was an avid reader and enjoyed the comfort of simple television programs. At the center of every family gathering, you would find Linda in her element; her famous deviled eggs on the table, laughter in the air, and a game of cards, dice, or a favorite board game bringing everyone together. Those moments were her happiest, and they are the ones her family will treasure forever.

Linda shared her home with her beloved cats, never without three of them at her side, and she cherished the role of grandmother with her whole heart. Being "Grandma" was among the greatest joys of her life, and she poured into those relationships with the same love and devotion she gave to everything she held dear.

Linda Martin leaves behind a legacy not of grand gestures, but of steady, faithful, everyday love; a garden tended, a blanket knitted, a baby rocked, a game played, a family gathered. She was simple at heart, and that simplicity was its own kind of grace.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Linda is welcomed into heaven by her dear husband, Dennis Martin; parents, Kermit and Bernice Carlisle; and her sister, Jeanne (Harry) Mailley.

She is survived by her loving children, Philip (Christine) Martin, and Craig (Trish) Martin; cherished grandchildren, Emma Martin, Hannah Elise Martin, Joshua Martin, Hannah Elizabeth Martin, and Blake Martin; dear siblings, Bob (Marianne) Carlisle, Joanne (Russ) Tadych, and Kevin (Ginger) Carlisle; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 27th at 9:30am followed by the funeral mass at 10:00am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church located at 21620 Greater Mack Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Little Sisters of The Poor in memory of Linda. (https://littlesistersofthepoorgallup.org/)