Martha Ann Lillard

Martha Lillard, a lifelong Shawnee resident, died of long-haul Covid 19 on June 26, 2026. She was 78 years old. She was born June 8, 1948, to Thomas M. and Gloria June (Green) Lillard of Shawnee. Her grandparents were Judge John Little and Grace A. (Hilton) Green and Halbert G. and Essie Lee (Harlin) Lillard. Martha contracted polio in 1953 and from that time slept in an iron lung. She attended Jefferson Grade School for an hour daily and had some tutors and attended Shawnee High School via school-to-home phone. She was a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Pottawatomie County Humane Society, for which she was volunteer for many years. She also did volunteer work with a local daycare center and was volunteer coordinator for Shawnee crisis phones. She was an avid Beagle lover and assisted in animal rescue as a cross poster on Facebook. She married Baha Salh in February 2026 who cared for her in their home after a 22 year courtship. Violet Rose, Ivy Mae, Libby Grace and Penny Brite, Mallawi Jay, Callie Ann and Benjamin Kent preceded her in passing; Markie Marie Beagle and Elwood Evan Terrier of the home. She leaves behind many poems and songs she composed in addition to her artwork. Martha is survived by Ray Stapp, Baha Salh, Mallawi, Egypt, her sister and brother-in-law, Kim Lillard of Shawnee, 3 cousins, Mary Ann Carmichael, Oklahoma City, and Chris J. Lillard, Shawnee. She is also survived by 2 nieces, Belinda McNeal, Shawnee, Andrea Koepke, Shawnee, step niece, Melanie McVey, Shawnee, 2 nephews, Shane Seyffert and Tripp Lillard, Shawnee, 2 great nephews, Adam Cagle and Braden Cagle and five great nieces, Bella Rose Koepke and Scottlyn Koepke, Shawnee, Emilee Largent and Karly Shalynn Seffert, Tecumseh, and Gracee Ann Lillard, Shawnee, and her dear friend Tiffany (Rose) Tripp, Shawnee. She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas M. Lillard, her mother, Gloria June Meng, her brother, Tommy Lillard, her grandparents, Grace A. (Hilton) Green and Judge John L. Green, her grandfather Halbert G. Lillard and step-grandmother, Mayme (Rose) Lillard, her aunt Mary Alice (Lillard) Carmichael, her uncle-in-law, Jim Carmichael, her step-mother, Peggy L. Lillard, her step-father, Dr. Sigurd M. Meng, her uncle, Kent Benjamin Green, her aunt-in-law, Ann Green and her cousin, Jody Lee Carmichael. Her grandmother, Essie Lee (Harlin) Lillard died in 1930, Disa Chambers, Shawnee. Graveside Services will be held at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery with Reverend Tom Dahlman officiating, on Monday June 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Memorials will be made to Jan Cochran Lewis Upshur Pound, Rt 10, Box 387-A Buckhannon, WV 26201 or Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Shawnee.