Martha Jane (Smith) Bushore Fallis

Martha Jane Smith Bushore Fallis was born to Jane Turner Smith and Ralph Arnold Smith in Knoxville, TN, on December 5, 1945. She passed peacefully in Clearwater, FL, on August 23, 2025, at the age of 79.

Born to a witty, exacting teacher and a kind, creative engineer, Martha was instilled early with a desire to make the world a better place. As an infant, she sustained an electrical burn to her mouth—an event that proved formative. During her hospital stays, she witnessed firsthand how medical care transformed the lives of children, and by the age of five, she had already determined she wanted to be a “baby doctor.”

Martha completed medical school in 1970 as the only woman in her graduating class. She married her medical school classmate, John Bushore, and pursued her dual dreams of becoming a pediatrician and starting a family. Between 1970 and 1974, she completed her pediatric residency and welcomed three children.

Her career began in the emergency department at Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, where she recognized the nationwide need for specialized pediatric emergency care. In response, she developed courses on the stabilization of critically ill and injured children. Martha founded the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine and played a key role in establishing Pediatric Emergency Medicine as a specialty. Her courses continued to evolve, and she ultimately co-authored the first book on pediatric triage diagnoses and helped create the Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) program, which has saved countless young lives.

Martha loved being a mother. She played John Denver songs on the guitar while her children sang and bounced on the bed. She hosted elaborate birthday parties, baking and decorating cakes herself and inventing creative activities for the guests. Her son “flew” around the house in a Batman cape; one daughter loved building forts, while the other reveled in dressing up in costumes gifted by “Favorite Aunt Martha” (FAVAM). She also shared with them her fondness for McDonald’s hot fudge sundaes, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Ms. Pac-Man.

The late 1980s brought challenges—divorce and serious health issues—but Martha found renewal after moving to Florida, where she was embraced by supportive friends and family. She bought a home in Clearwater, where she found joy in welcoming visitors onto her lanai. There, she enjoyed a beautiful view of the water, alive with birds, fish, and the rare, gentle presence of a manatee. She loved cruising in her convertible, and her answering machine cheerfully declared: “It’s always 85 and sunny in beautiful Clearwater, Florida.”

In 2003, she married Jim Fallis, a pediatric surgeon with whom she had previously collaborated on child restraint initiatives. Together, they shared many joyful years, traveling between Florida and Canada and cherishing time with their children and grandchildren. Between 2003 and 2010, Martha, alongside two local musicians, wrote a musical titled Freedom Found, which premiered in St. Petersburg in 2010. Inspired by her lifelong mission to protect children and youth, the musical encouraged making wise choices in the face of tough challenges. Its slogan, “Choose WHO to be,” was Martha’s guiding mantra. Despite significant obstacles, she consistently chose a life of passionate purpose—one dedicated to making the world a safer place for children.

Martha is survived by her children and siblings. She was especially close with her daughters, Sarah Bushore (Brian Patterson) of North Carolina and Carol Lagemann (Ben) of Ohio, and her beloved grandchildren Gavin, Leyton, Gryffin, and Corbin. Her siblings were always supportive and include Arnold Smith (Mary) of Mississippi, Haywood Smith (Carol) of Florida, and Sarah Smith of Georgia. Fifteen years of marriage also brought her loving relationships with Jim Fallis’ children in Canada: Tim Fallis (Mel), Terry Fallis (Nancy Naylor), and Susan Brown (Tony), and their children Sarah, Christopher, Calder, Ben, Alexandra, Elizabeth, and Laura. She was predeceased by her parents, who remained always close to her heart.

A service will be held on September 27, 2025, at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, TN. The receiving of friends and family will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a pediatric charity such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.