Martha Mertz Buss

Martha Mertz Buss went to be in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 11, 2025 at the Ventana Memory-Long Term Care facility in Dallas, Texas at the age of 90 years. A memorial service will be held on Saturday March 15, 2025 at 10:00 am, at the Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home at 7405 W Northwest Hwy Dallas, Texas 75225 with Pastor Richard Kurth officiating. Visitation and viewing will be available on Friday March 14th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm also at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral home.

Martha was born on August 29, 1934, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, to H.A. (Jack) Mertz and Hattie Handley Mertz both of whom provided her with a strong Christian foundation for her adult life. When Martha graduated from Ponca City high school in 1953 she attended Oklahoma A&M for one year. In 1954 Martha moved to Dallas, Texas where she was employed for the next nine years as an Executive Secretary at Nieman Marcus. In 1959 while watching an OU-TEXAS football game with some friends she meet her future husband Ken Buss. After they were married Ken would often tell friends that he first met Martha at about 1:03 pm on Saturday September 10th 1959, minutes before the start of the game. Later, Ken would tell how his heart did flip flops when he first saw Martha walk thru the apartment doorway. For the next year and a half they were just good friends. They started dating toward the end of 1961. They were engaged during the summer of 1962 and were married on Saturday November 24th 1962 at the First Christian Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

After their marriage Martha attended adult confirmation classes at Zion Lutheran Church where Ken was a church member. She was confirmed in May 1963 and after her children Amy and Mike were born she assisted in Sunday school infant and kindergarten classes. Later she become a member of Zion’s alter guild. Throughout her marriage until she was stricken with dementia she would set aside a quiet time every morning to study the bible. Using “The Portals Of Pray” as a reference she would make notes and write questions in the margins of a half a dozen different “dog eared” bibles she used for her study.

As a wife and homemaker she enjoyed cooking and quilting. In addition to baking cakes, pies, small Cinnamon rolls for the family and friends, she always made sure the cookie jar in her kitchen was filled with fresh baked cookies for Amy and Mike and their friends. And, later the same cookie jar was kept full for her grandchildren and their friends. In pursuing her passion for Quilting she converted a sitting room into a Quilting room. She usually had 1 or 2 Quilts in work at the same time. When she finished one, either a bed sized or smaller quilt it was her joy to give the quilt to her children, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews or some special friend.

Martha’s greatest joy in retirement came from the quality time she was able to spend with her children and grandchildren.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents Hattie and Jack Mertz; brothers, Charles Roy Mertz, Forrest Mertz, and Don Mertz; sisters Helen Louise Mertz, and Elaine Harris. She is survived by her husband Kenneth Buss, daughter Amy Leatherwood and her husband Tim, son Charles (Mike) Buss and his fiancée Lisa Huddleston; grandchildren Raymond Griffis, Katharine Griffis, Michelle Griffis, Cooper Buss, and Griffin Buss. Plus, Nancy Bloede who is her niece, but thru out her life was more like a younger sister to her. Martha is also survived by four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

For the last 20 months Martha was an inpatient resident at the Ventana at Buckner. Her family would like to express their appreciation for the 24 hour professional and loving care she received from the numerous Nurses and Caregivers in the Ventana Skilled Nursing, Memory Care, and Long Term Care units. Finally, we would like to express our appreciation for the care provided Monday thru Friday for the last four months by Hospice Caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent The Scottish Children’s Hospital, Zion Lutheran Church, or the persons church or charity of choice.