A THANK YOU TO GIVEN-DAWSON FUNERAL HOME:
I would like to thank Given-Dawson Funeral Home for their wonderful, caring, personal touch and support throughout our mother's funeral process.  Their staff did everything possible to accommodate every request and detail to the letter.  From their kindness to friends and family, the special attention to the children, the home-made chocolate chip cookies (warm and right out of the oven!), to their personal, thoughtful touch in setting up our mother's Memory Table.  They truly projected a welcoming and comforting atmosphere to all.  Martha's portrait was absolutely beautiful, the catered dinner received countless complements, and this book will no doubt be an exceptional blessing to many.  And all, a testament to the collective character of the Given-Dawson staff.  In the days following our mother's passing, we received a flood of comments about how wonderful her funeral was.  Indeed it was a special blessing to see her off so well. 
Sincerely,
Martha's Family

RICH'S EULOGY FOR HIS MOTHER:
Mom brought us up in church so that we would know Jesus - and she used to sing and play her guitar in church.  As we got older, any time one of us were going through a rough time, she would pray for us and would often make a call to my uncle Roy and aunt Myrtle to request prayer  as uncle Roy, Mom's brother, is a preacher.  He and aunt Myrtle have always been there for their sis and her family.
As a single parent with three children, I remember Mom would sit us three kids on her bed and read the Bible to us.  When she put us to bed she would kneel down next to us and teach us to say our prayers.  We would start off with, Now I lay me, down to sleep.  I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.  If I should die, before I wake I pray the Lord, my soul to take.  Then she would teach us to ask Jesus to bless each of the individuals in our family.  Mom, Rusty, Vicki Uncle Roy, Aunt Myrtle, Rick Aunt Helen, Danny, Jerry, Chris Aunt Mae, Lisa, Mike Uncle Ernie and so on.   I prayed that prayer most of my life when I went to bed.  Upon finishing it, I would simply segue into praying for loved ones, my church, friends, and the concerns of the day.  I suppose over the years I guess I started forgetting to include that little, innocent prayer at the beginning that my mother taught me.           
Over the past few weeks however, the Lord gave it back to me  though this time around at the end of loving prayers at my mother's side, instead of at the beginning, usually just before leaving to go home for the evening.  I hated leaving mom's side if she was still awake, so I always tried to ease out after she had fallen asleep.  And even if I had already prayed with her a time or two throughout our visit while she was awake, once asleep, I would close our visits with that little prayer she taught me, followed by a Sweet Dreams Momma. an I Love You and a kiss on the forehead before sneaking out of her room.  When my mother went home to be with the Lord Friday morning as I closed her eyes I prayed, Now I lay me, down to sleep.  I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.  If I should die, before I wake, I pray the Lord, my soul to take.  I then wished her sweet dreams, kissed her once again on the forehead  and once more, said, I love you Momma.  I'll see you soon.

Perhaps the Lord gave that prayer back to me a few weeks ago so that sharing it once again with my mother over the past few weeks would serve as a catalyst for passing it on to my children.  I left Children's Hospital Friday evening after spending time with my son, Wesley after mom's passing, and when I got home (at close to midnight), my daughter, Brooke, was sleeping in my bed  worried about her papa.  She awoke as Grizz (our dog), and I settled in, and after talking a minute or two, I told her about Memaw teaching me that prayer.  I then taught it to her as she repeated each line after me.    One down  two to go!   .. Wyatt and Wesley . and of course everyone in this room, in honor of my mother, maybe we can all remember that innocent little prayer as we lie down tonight, and perhaps even embrace it as our own precursor before praying for the daily concerns in your lives.    So once again, just so we all have it. Now I lay me, down to sleep.  I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.  If I should die, before I wake I pray the Lord, my soul to take.  
In 2008 I almost died from pancreatitis and was in the hospital for 13 days (ICU for seven of them).  When released, I slept on the couch the first few nights.  The day I got home, Mom drove to our house from Coshocton, and as I slept on the couch, she prayed for me the entire night  from evening until morning.  Every time I woke up to try and get comfortable, I would hear her praying over me.  That's something I'll never forget and I never would have thought back then that I would be returning that blessing on more than one occasion for momma.  I think about that sometimes, and the Lord simply reveals that it's simply His orchestration of balancing that privilege between my mother and me.  
Mom was an amazing cook and baker, and taught me how to cook as I was growing up.  Our home always smelled wonderful any time mom was in the kitchen making something.  When the three of us kids were little, any time there was a Winnie the Pooh special, Wizard of Oz showing, or a Dr. Seuss story on TV, it seemed like Mom was always there with warm cookies, cupcakes, buttered popcorn, homemade pizzas, or anything else that would make the event even more special to us.  Sled riding excursions in our hilly country yard often ended with us coming inside to a cup of hot chocolate - and the holidays always included a plethora of wonderful treats, just right for kids.  Mom never had much as far as worldly treasures are concerned, but what she did have was the ability to stretch a dollar, and an incredible knack for turning good memories into wondrously nostalgic ones through her amazing talents in the kitchen, be it whole meals, holiday table spreads with her amazing stuffing, a batch of cookies, seasonal comfort foods like soups and chili, or unique Christmas treats and creations, just for us kids!   And of course, none of us could forget coming home from church on Sunday afternoons to the smell of pot roast all through the house!  Over the years I've learned to make most of what I experienced from my mother's cooking as I was growing up  though not without countless phone calls or sessions with her in the kitchen asking about this or that until I got it just right.  Her meals and love of cooking will continue to be the blessing they've always been as long as I'm able to occupy a kitchen  and the aroma of her meatloaf, fried chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, or biscuits and gravy, to name a few, will forever serve as wonderful, loving reminders of mom's cooking as they fill yet another household of three growing kids two boys and a girl nonetheless! Funny how God works that out. 
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Mom's generosity.  Mom was born on a hill top called Gobbler's Knob  basically in a shack with a dirt floor from my understanding and by a mid-wife nonetheless.  She grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, up a holler called Turkey Creek.  Money was extremely sparse, and many of us would have a hard time envisioning how my mother, her siblings, and her parents even survived at all if you knew of just some of the hardships they all faced back in their day', (borrowing a term my Mom would often use).  Later on in life, just after a divorce, mom was faced with caring for and raising three children on a miniscule income.  For a few years there, we didn't have much at all, but she provided we always ate and we always had a roof over our heads.    Yet even given some of the hardships she has experienced at various times throughout her life, she remains the most generous person I've ever known.  Any time she might hear one of her children utter something about it being a little tight a particular month, or anything else concerning having it a little rough for one reason or another, she was always quick to offer to help, regardless of not having much herself.  She could be down to her last few dollars and still offer it to help someone in need.   -------- Just a couple days ago I listened to my sister tell me a story about walking into Mom's house around the time her Alzheimer's was becoming quite cumbersome to her.  She was in the dining room  worried  and counting out money into three modest stacks.  When Vicki asked her what she was doing, she expressed that she was worried about her three children, and that she wanted to leave them something when she passed to help them out and that she didn't want to forget.  
The three stacks?  From what Vicki could see were mostly one dollar bills.  
Let me just say that Mom's role in leading her children to Jesus Christ, solidified our retirement in Heaven, with a Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills  and I'm sure I can speak for all three of her children in saying that we would all much rather store up our treasures in Heaven, than to have an abundance here on earth.  So all in all, her contributions to her children (and as a result, to her grandchildren), were priceless beyond measure, for eternity. 

About an hour or so after Mom left us to be with the Lord, Uncle Roy and I were sitting at the table in the cafeteria at the nursing home  quietly.  A few minutes passed by and I said, So what do you think?  Without pause, he said I think she traded her room for a mansion!  
And Momma  You certainly deserve it!
Because of your role in our lives, we have a mansion waiting for us as well - and words can't express how grateful we are for that. 
I Love You Mom!    And as I always tell you I'll catch up to ya soon! 
To  Bombie (as I playfully squeeze your face with both hands!) 
From  Your Baby-Son   Richie!

VICKI'S EULOGY FOR HER MOTHER:
I love you My Dearest Sweet Mom!
This Remarkable Woman I call ''Mom'' was very sweet, caring, passionate, funny, & always loved to laugh, and that is one thing we all remember about her - her laughter!   We moved here in 1968 from Cleveland, me being the oldest.  I kinda missed the city and remember it well - and the park by Lake Erie where the family used to go to just to spend the day looking out at the Lake which to us was our ocean.  But, when we moved here in Coshocton to a home in the country, it was a very different lifestyle for all of us!    Moving into this house was to us like a mansion because we were so little - but now we feel like we are bigger than the house!  It may feel that way to my brothers since they are giants being so tall and big like football players!   We also had a nice big yard all around the house, when some houses you see only have front and back yards.  The first year there -- dad built us a tree house, a nice swing from a very large walnut tree, and a play-house for me - so not only we had a nice big yard --we had a playground!    Mom loved the place and went nuts with her new home when the holidays came around the corner - and each year she would decorate it more and more!   When we were in school growing up our friends loved mom's place and HER FOOD!   I think they would want to also spend the night maybe hoping to have some of that good ole country breakfast in the morning too!  She loved pizza and would buy one medium or large all for herself!  She also loved Burger King, and her and I would go out to eat there, as well as Taco Bell and Long John Silvers! 
  
She also loved to go shopping.  Her best place to shop was in Zanesville, and for years since the 80's we both would go together.  I remember riding with her when she would drive on Rt. 16 heading towards Zanesville.  She never liked to be behind slow cars, so she would pass them!  There were times that she would pass 2 or 3 cars at the same time as long as there were no on-coming cars!  And she would even pass more up ahead - and I told her, '' Mom you don't have to pass em all!  She'd say, ''I don't care - I don't have all day!''  Because when she wants to shop till she drops - she wants to get there!   The next time we went shopping -- I made sure I drove!

She was a Good Mother in her own way, and did well with raising her 3 children while single, or married.  She faced many trials and hardships most of her life - including losing her mother at the age of 14.  When that happened, she had to take on the responsibility of raising her younger sisters and little brother, who was around 3 years old.  Her older brother went to the Army so she had to also cook for her father and siblings!  If you ever heard of the song, ''Coal Miner's Daughter'' sang by Loretta Lynn, it will give you an idea of the life she may have lived.  She was a strong woman, and raising us kids wasn't easy - but she had the Lord in her life to help her in hard times, and she made sure we went to church!  We became regular church goers for years and loved Sunday School and Vacation Bible School!  And because of Mom - we all still go to church today!   ''Like God's Word says in Prov. 22:6, ''Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.''   
I wrote this at Christmas time about Mom and wanted to share it:

Christmas in the Country:
She had ways to make our home in the country a happy one to cheer and uplift our spirits through hard times!   I think of Christmas down home where many cherished memories were made there.  When we were kids - we remember our Mom always loved Christmas time.  We remember her baking homemade pies, candies, cookies & a great dinner, always with a good pasta salad along with rolls!  When cooking her Ham for Christmas & Easter, she would put pineapple with cherries all around the ham with clove sticks - and it was always so good!  She always cooked a hearty meal for the Holidays - and even when it wasn't a holiday!  The house was decorated with many Christmas decorations, and a white candle in every window!  Her mantle would have the tiny village with tiny pine trees and deer's!  She would put a candy dish everywhere - and I guess you all can say that's where I learned it from!  And my children and I got our love for cooking from her - and my brothers are great cooks as well!     

Growing up as kids  the three of us loved sled riding and we'd be sled riding till dark cause in those days we were always outside playing and we loved the outdoors.  We learned to climb trees and loved to hide from mom when she was down below saying, ''Dinners Ready!''!  My children and my brother's children also remember visiting with their memaw and have special memories of their own of their beloved memaw.  My dad loved the Holidays and he also loved Christmas.  I guess you can say, who doesn't?   When we were kids, dad always knew how to make Santa real in our lives and we just easily believed him with dropped mouths as we listen to his stories about Santa landing on our House!  Even though when dad couldn't read from a book, he did very well making up stories that he would tell us kids and and grandchildren!   He played that ole guitar and sang his songs to us.  And mom even played the guitar and sang in church - and it has passed down to our children and a few of the grandchildren.  So at Christmas-time we think of the good ole memories - and do miss our mom and memaw.  So the house that now sits on a hill of old age, still stands, along with the many memories of the past.  Not the bad ---BUT THE GOOD!    

The house the way I remember it moving there from Cleveland in 1968 was so alive with many trees that use to be there.  Fruit trees such as pear, apple, cherry, and plum.  The walnut trees  and grape vines as well - as her many beautiful flowers, roses, wild roses, tulips, & flower bushes!  It was like living in paradise!  Now they are no longer there cause of the storms, chopped down and died out on their own.   They may not be there anymore --but they are there in our memory and will be returned to her when she goes to Heaven and it will be 10 times more beautiful around her home up there!   I asked the Lord to bring back her Home only bigger and better and all the trees & flowers she lost --and I believe he will! :)

Christmas is a Time to think of good memories and not always dwell on the bad ones!   Even though when Christmas is not around --it is always good for the heart, soul and mind to dwell on the Good Memories and let go of the bad!  Talk about the good memories always and tell it to our children and grand-children --they love to listen to stories!  Didn't we?  It helps the soul & spirit to be uplifted -- and to go on in life learning something from them!  So let us Thank the Lord for our parents and your parents of their love, care, laughter, hearty homemade meals, travel times, vacation times, etc. & their stories along with stories about themselves & their faith in God!      
The End
We will Always Remember & Think of Our beloved Mom, Memaw, Sister, Aunt & Friend each day of our lives - because now she lives in Heaven - But she will Always Live in our Hearts Forever!    I love you My Dearest Sweet Mom!    
Your Daughter, Vicki L. Elkins Carpenter

A MEMORY FROM DERRICK:

I always liked watching "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" with her.  I liked it when she would get excited about RUNNOFT.   Yeah, she loved it and she always used to crack up about it - and she would bring it up a lot.  That was my favorite memory of her.

A MEMORY FROM DANIELLE:
I always loved how proud my Memaw was that she was able to do many things around her property without the help of a man  ha ha!  She would always point to her biceps and say  See how strong your Memaw is?   That's from mowing this big yard and hill all by myself!  She inspired me to be a strong and independent woman. 

I also have many fond memories of putting on an Elvis record or movie and dancing with Memaw and my Mom in her living room.  She would always say, "Make sure you bend your knees when you dance!"  And we would boogie in her living room just laughing!

MEMORIES FROM VICKI:
Mom was always a very amazing cook & baker.  She loved to come up with ideas with her cooking, and she always did so well at setting the table with help-yourself foods & rolls!  I remember she and I always loved to sit down with some of her homemade tuna salad to put on toast with chips and pop  and we also loved BLT sandwiches!  Those were her two favorite sandwiches on toasted bread.  She also loved hamburgers, and she would make her hamburger like a Whopper!   
She loved to be outside to enjoy the sunshine, and she would check on her flowers every morning.  She loved planting flowers and tomatoes, and even liked cutting the grass.  Sometimes she would enjoy a summers day by laying out in the sun! 
Mom loved to laugh  and I can remember her laughing at me whenever I had trouble getting the thread in the needle hole!  The best laughter we ever had was back in 2002 when she was helping me move.  I backed up the moving truck to load, and while lifting a box full of encyclopedia books up the ramp to the truck, (as mom was helping me), the box broke and mom jumped off the ramp to keep from falling!  I somehow lost my balance and it made me turn and fall!  I dropped the books and fell on top of all of them and was sliding down the ramp on top of all the books like in a superman motion and mom laughed so hard that she actually peed her pants!!!  She kept telling me how she wished she had a video camera to tape it and put it on America's Funniest Home Videos and that it would sure win me some money!  I laid there laughing so hard because she wouldn't' stop laughing!  That was one of the best laughing moments that I have of her.  There are so many more funny and good times me and my children had with her that I can write a book! 
Another wonderful memory I have of mom is that since Danielle was little, the three of us would get together and go shopping for Easter each year  and when mom shops for a nice dress for Easter, she always loved to wear white shoes and purse to match.  Well, one year the three of us did the same thing and got white shoes and a white purse to match the shoes!  No matter what color our dresses were, the shoes and purse would be white!  I loved her Easter dinners and all of the other wonderful holiday baking she loved to do.
I can remember on one winter day  it was mom and I at her house, because my children were with their father for the holidays, and I stayed the night with mom.  Well it started to snow, and it snowed pretty fast till later in the evening it was snowing in a beautiful, slow motion  and me being in my early 30's, I was in the mood to build a snowman!  So like a kid I went out and built a snowman while mom watched me from her window, drinking her coffee!  I'm sure she was dreaming of me being a little girl again!  It turned out to be a pretty cool looking snowman!  
I can also remember her getting excited to become a grandma!  She loved each and every one of her grandchildren and would play and laugh with them!  I'm sure they all have tons of good memories of their beloved Memaw! 
Mom loved the Lord and love to go to church if she had one to go to.  I can remember on some of my visits at the house, I'd walk in and she'd be reading her Bible or a good Christian book.  She and I loved to talk about the Lord and the end times and rapture.  We'd go on and on for hours talking about it.  She also loved the History Channel.  She would tell me that the reason she loved watching it was because she didn't get all the education she needed growing up.  So the History Channel was like being in history class, and she learned a lot from watching that program.  
There are so many more memories we all have of her, and we will cherish each and every one of them forever!

Thanks to all our family and friends for your kind words and prayers during this difficult time.. Mom.(Martha) will be sadly missed by all..remember her in your hearts..Russ..

 May the God  of all comfort strengthen the entire family during this time of sorrow. Those who die God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. (Psalms 116:15)  My sincerest sympathy.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Rich and Family, So sorry for your loss, but a Mother is never gone as a bit of her remains in each of her children

Martha was a friend that I haven't seen in a long while.  Thoughts and prayers to the family.

I am so so sorry for your family loss! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Uncle Ernie, Aunt Shirlene, and girls and Roy and Myrtle. I love you all very much. May God watch over you all and give you comfort and peace of mind and spirit today.

 Russ and family we are so sorry for your loss Your mother was a sweet and beautiful lady

Russ and Family
 I'm  so sorry for your loss.May you find comfort in looking back on all the good times. May the Lord comfort and Bless you.
With Love

Judy

very special person, she would always leave a smile on my face, prayers to the family

Meet Martha when we both worked at Big Lots. She was very easy to talk with and full of great advice. I mostly loved our chats of family she adored hers. Prayers to the family.

Martha, You will truly be missed. You were my friend, my church family. And without your help I would have never been able to take care of both of my parents at home without you. We have prayed togeter, cried together, and I am truly going to miss not knowing you are here. But I know God called you home and it waas his perfect timing. I will always cherish your memory. With Precious memories.

Martha, we were friends many years. We have laughed together, cried together, worshiped together. Without you helping me during the time of my parents sickness's I could have never done it without you. My precious friend , I will see you again in Heaven.

Martha I meet you at Big Lots and we became friends, we talked about our family's , we shopped together and became close , I am sad you are gone , but I know you are in a place we only dream about. Until we meet again my friend.

So sorry for your loss. Prayers for all of you.

Martha, I light this candle, in hopes of one day, we will find a way to deal with Alzheimer's and maybe, one day be rid of it! I miss you more than you know. Love you

Martha, you have been an amazing friend, and I love you dearly. My prayers go out to the family at losing an amazing sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Martha, you'll be missed. Love you, <3

Martha was blessed with a loving, Christian family who stood by her side to the end. It was our privilege to come alongside the last few months. Rich, Vicki, Russ & Roy continue to be in our thoughts & prayers.

I loved talking to Martha when I saw her out working on the flowers

Martha was a friend I have missed for a while.  God be with her family.
from Bob and Eva Branan

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Martha Lee Morgan

25 juin 1939 – 23 janvier 2015

Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home

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