Martha Elizabeth Schafer Vest

Martha Schafer Vest, 97, passed away on October 31, 2024. She led a remarkable life full of love, caring, faith, and family. Martha was a native of Henryville, IN, where she grew up on a farm with six siblings. Her father drove a delivery truck for Morgan Foods, and later in life, her mother worked at Stewarts Dry Goods Store. As several family members owned Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises, and Martha and her husband were co-owners of a KFC franchise with her sister and brother-in-law for a short time, many family visits happened at “the chicken house” (the various KFC locations). Martha was a graduate of Henryville High School and Nazareth College, sought additional education from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and Spalding College and earned a nursing degree and master’s degree in education. Martha worked with and taught pediatric nursing at Saint Joseph Infirmary in Louisville, KY, as she loved children. She had an independent spirit, which was reflected in how she lived on her own after high school in order to further her education, and in how she taught her children to learn skills for themselves.

During World War II, Martha was in the Army Nurses’ Corp. and made bandages for wounded soldiers for the American Red Cross. She enjoyed working at Red Cross blood drives from ages 18 through 89. She recruited her grade-school age daughters to accompany her and help with summer blood drives. Because of her dedication to the American Red Cross, in 2016 she was granted the Clara Barton Lifetime Achievement Award. Martha was recognized as Kentucky’s first Nurse of the Year in 1954 because of her commitment to excellence in nursing, teaching, and caring for her community. She readily shared her gift of caring for others with family and friends. She married her high school sweetheart, Maurice, in 1962 and together they lovingly raised two daughters. At age 80, she was so happy upon the birth of her grandson, Chase; as a toddler, Chase played in the park and rode in a red wagon by the river with his Grandma Martha; as a young man, Chase enjoyed making his Grandma smile and laugh.

Martha was an active member of Sacred Heart and Saint Augustine Church, as a eucharistic minister, a visitor to the sick, a volunteer for church picnics and other functions, president of the Women’s Club, and part of the church cleaning team. She felt the importance of keeping the church sparkling and was often requested by fellow team members to retreat from the ladders and high places that seemed to need more cleaning. Martha loved family gatherings, which always included meals. She hosted many holiday and special occasion meals for extended family. After the meals, daughters, nieces and nephews would play in the basement, while the adults had a lively game of Euchre at the kitchen table, complete with laughter and the sounds of hands and rings pounding the table as game-deciding tricks were played. Even in later years, when her mind wasn’t as sharp, she liked to sing familiar songs, especially Christmas carols.

Martha is preceded in death by four sisters, Pauline Houchen, Delphine Rothbauer, Virginia Mullins, and Elizabeth Naville; two brothers, Robert and George Schafer; her parents, Tom and Elizabeth Schubnell Schafer; and her husband, Maurice. Survivors include daughters Ann Stickler (Larry) and Mary McKinley (Mark), grandson Chase Stickler, granddaughters Shelby Stickler and Meagan Skinner (Chris), three great grandchildren (Ava, Olivia and Scarlett), and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Martha will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kraft Funeral Service, 2776 Charlestown Road, New Albany, Indiana.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1840 E. 8th Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Martha will be laid to rest in Walnut Ridge Cemetery following mass.