Martha Malita Priest, 96, was called to her eternal home by her Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Martha Markwardt Priest was born May 3, 1922, near Malone, Texas, the fourth child of 16 children to Herman and Emma Markwardt. She was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas by Pastor H.C. Gaertner. While growing up she helped to raise her younger siblings and picked cotton. During the war she worked in a sewing factory. In 1945 after the war, Martha moved to Houston, Texas where she met and married Frank P. Priest on October 25, 1948. They were married 64 years. They had three children, Judy, Frank and Sandra. They were longtime members of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, where they did volunteer work and made braille books for many years.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband Frank P. Priest, daughter Sandra Elaine Priest, grandson Scott E. Kueck and 12 siblings. Left to cherish her memories are daughter Judy Kueck and grandkids Karen Newlander, Tina Phillips, John Wm. Kueck, Kelly Kueck and Kris Kueck; son Frank W. Priest and grandkids Jessica Bruning, Allison Haenel and Meredith Atkinson; 23 great-grandchildren; siblings Emmaline Piel, Laverne Rash, and Dalton Markwardt.
Family will receive friends for services at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the funeral service led by Pastor Scott Heinz to begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Family Chapel. Interment will follow in Brookside Memorial Park. Special thanks to St. Timothy Lutheran Church for hosting and providing an after service reception at the church, 14225 Hargrave, Houston, Texas 77070.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Benevolence Fund at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in honor of all her volunteering and helping of others, 281-469-2457.
