Martha Jane Bryan

Martha Jane Potwin was born on January 11, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, to Henry A. Potwin and Ida Sheets Potwin. She passed away on September 14, 2022, after a long and full life.

Martha, better known as “Marty”, had a beautiful smile and kind spirit. The simplest pleasures in life brought her joy and she was active and independent until her nineties. Marty nurtured relationships with friends and neighbors to the fullest. Her pleasant personality was contagious to everyone she met. In addition to attending church regularly, she was an avid reader, loved the beach and time in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico, and was always up for a competitive game of Canasta or bridge. A graduate of Highland Park High School, she earned an Associate of Arts degree in merchandising from William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, before attending SMU in Dallas, Texas, where she was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Marty married Tom E. Bryan at Highland Park Presbyterian Church on April 30, 1949. Marty and Tom were the proud parents of three children, Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Bryan, William Thomas (Bill) Bryan and Robert Henry (Bob) Bryan.

Once the children were older, Marty worked as a personal assistant for Professional Services, Inc. At the time of her retirement, her employer wrote, “I can honestly say that Marty has been the most loyal, dedicated and conscientious associate I’ve ever known in my entire life. In the 17 years she has been with us, she has always offered a helping hand and her fabulous warm smile for anyone in need. Marty’s influence in each of our lives, regardless of degree, has had a positive impact on us all”. Her family lovingly jokes that she put on her lipstick every morning no matter the occasion and she was famous for “Grandma Marty’s” chocolate cake. After retirement, Marty’s happiest moments were spent with her precious grand and great-grandchildren. She was well loved and will be greatly missed.

Martha was preceded in death by her mother and father, husband Tom Bryan, brother Henry (Bud) Potwin, sister Mary Lou Bailey, sisters-in-law Jo Potwin and Mary McGill, brother-in-law George (Cam) McGill, mother and father-in-law William T. (Bill) Bryan and Grace Mohr Bryan, son-in-law Don Fancher, and niece Suzanne Bailey. She is survived by her daughter Betty Bryan Fancher of Plano, TX, sons Bill Bryan and Bob Bryan of Mesquite, TX, and daughter-in-law Laura Mann Bryan of Mesquite. She was blessed with five grandchildren: Kelly Fancher White Church of Branson, MO, Matthew Bryan Fancher of Dallas, Sarah Bryan Garza of Heath,TX, Emily Bryan Dean of Rowlett, TX, and Christopher Bryan of McKinney, TX, and their spouses Dean Church of Branson, MO., Steven Garza of Heath, TX, Cory Dean of Rowlett, TX, and Emily Brooks Bryan of McKinney, TX. Martha Jane became great-grandma to Macy Elizabeth White, Max Timothy White, Connor Henry Dean and Miles Reid Dean. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Margaret McGill Kunkel of Ft. Worth, TX, Janet Bailey Mullenix of North Richland Hills, TX, Sara Bailey Swaffer of Tontitown, AR, David Potwin of McAllen, TX, Paul Potwin of Dallas and Cathy Potwin Jones of Dripping Springs, TX.

Should friends and family desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Martha Jane’s memory to The American Stroke Association or the charity of your choice.