Martha Claire Garrett

Martha Cooper Allbee Garrett, a lifelong Dallasite, passed away from this life and was welcomed to heaven on January 3, 2014. She was a proud 4th generation Baylorite, graduating from Baylor University in 1946 with a business degree -- at a time when few women pursued the field. She was proud to be the great granddaughter of Rufus C. Burleson, founder of and second president of Baylor. In her single days, she pursued a both a career in banking and the 1950s Dallas social scene. Active in many social and service clubs, including serving as president of the Cimarron Club, she was an early fashionista and frequently noted in the 1950s Dallas Morning News society pages under the caption "What Miss Cooper wore..."

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 31 years, Art Allbee, and is survived by a daughter, Marti Allbee Baker, husband Dan Baker and grandson Ted Baker. She is also survived by her son, Andy Allbee, his wife, Patricia Long Allbee, and granddaughters Allison and Emmie Allbee.

In 1995, she married Lewis Garrett and is survived by him and his three sons who she loved as her own -- David Garrett, wife Amy and grandson Brett Garrett; Paul Garrett and his wife Shannon; and Mark Garrett, wife Abbey and granddaughters Audrey and Molly Garrett.

As an only child, Martha loved and was loved by many cousins, who she treasured dearly throughout her life. She is also survived by many, many friends.

A lifelong member of First Baptist Church, Dallas, her faith was always a top priority and she remained active in the church throughout her life. Martha's friends and family were blessed by her love of family and family history, sharp sense of humor, her poise, style, fashion sense and glorious red hair. A loyal and true friend to many, loving cousin and beloved wife and mother, she will be sorely missed and often celebrated.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Lottie Moon Foreign Missions in care of First Baptist Dallas or at www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon.

A celebration of her life will be held at 12:00pm, Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel. Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00pm, Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Sparkman/Hillcrest.