She was born on August 9th, 1934, in a farmhouse in Dunwoody. She was the daughter of Floyd Martin and Margaret (Maggie) Mae Eidson Martin, and for over 74 years was a proud charter member of Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Ethel grew up in the church, and along with her parents and older brothers Herbert and Dorris Martin, participated in many of its milestone events. It is fitting that she was at the church she loved when she became deathly ill, and surrounded by love and care, passed into Heaven.
Ethel grew up in Dunwoody when it was still the rural south. The family believed in hard work, the uplifting power of music and faith, and sitting down together for home-cooked family dinners. She passed all these traditions down to her family. Ethel attended elementary school in the 2-room Dunwoody School, and graduated from Chamblee High School in 1952. Her gifts of organization and efficiency led her to office work, which was an extension of her life’s mission: to be in service to others. Her work as an administrative assistant was appreciated in the offices of Dunwoody Methodist Church and the Equitable Insurance Company.
In 1956, Ethel married a handsome Marine named Norman McKee. She and Norman, along with her beloved mother, lived in the small white frame house on Mount Vernon Road across from Dunwoody Methodist and raised their children, Nancy and Ed, in that house. From that vantage, Ethel had a front row seat to the growth of her church and her community. She baked, sewed, gardened, and prayed for her church and its missions. Ethel took great joy in her grandchildren, Lauren and Rick. After the death of her mother Ethel and Norman moved to Cumming, Georgia, but remained loyal members of Dunwoody Methodist and their Interpreters Sunday School class.
This devoted wife, mother, and grandmother loved feeding wild birds, cuddling her cats and grandchildren, and maintaining a lovely home and garden. Ethel is survived by her husband, Norman; son Ed; daughter Nancy Van Patten and son-in-law Fred; grandchildren Lauren Van Patten Fields and grandson-in-law Cody; and grandson Rick Van Patten. Her life is celebrated by her extended family and grateful friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 25th in the Chapel of Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA, 30338.
In lieu of flowers, please direct your gifts to Dunwoody United Methodist Church at this link:
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