Mary Ann Martin

Mary Ann Martin, 66, of Marysville, Kansas, also known as the "The Happy Birthday Lady" on KNDY Radio Party Line, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at the Blue Valley Nursing Home in Blue Rapids, Kansas. Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 7, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Marysville. Father Jim Shaughnessy officiated. Bob Welch played the organ accompanied by the church choir. Burial was in St. Gregory's Catholic Cemetery. The pallbearers were Angie Jones, David Taylor, Kay Taylor, Keith Oberding, Chris Stevenson, Ed Henry and Deb Foust. The honorary pallbearers were Carolyn Pennick, Ricardo Smith, Shelia Bolejack, Melanie Stoneburger and Richie Padget. Mary was born on January 23, 1945 at Santa Cruz, California, the daughter of Mary B. Fairchild Franklin. On November 22, 1975 she married Jeri J. Martin. He passed away on December 24, 1982. She was a member of St. Gregory's Catholic Church, Altar Society and Choir. She worked at the Greenleaf Twin Valley Shelter where she shredded paper. She made many great friends and always kept everyone on their toes and never missed anything. Mary loved cats, riding the bus to the Agency On Aging Center for lunch and visiting with others. She could tell some good stories and she was also good at keeping everyone well entertained. Mary will always be remembered for her famous animal calls. Her favorite being the rooster call. She enjoyed calling Bruce and Jeff daily during party line. Jeff Jacques always had a way of getting her wound up. She also made sure if you had a birthday, that everyone else knew it too, and she would never forget it. She was a big K-State fan and had no problem letting everybody know it. Mary will definitely be missed and remembered for her big heart. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Ann Martin, please visit our flower store.