Myrtle Irene Martin

September 20, 1923 – March 17, 2011

Myrtle Hicks Martin left this earth to be with the lord on March 17, 2011. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2011 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, at the funeral home with Glenn Miears officiating. Interment will follow in Bryan City Cemetery.

Born in Bryan, Texas to Walter and Nannie Hicks. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1941. She married Sam Dennis Martin on November 27, 1952 in her families home. They began building their dream home in 1956 by working on it at night until it was completed. They moved in on April 5, 1957. They owned and operated a plumbing business, Sam D. Martin Plumbing, from 1960 – 1963. They adopted a baby girl, Barbara, when she was 7 days old in November 1964.

Myrtle began working for Bryan Building and Loan in 1945 as a clerk and advanced to the position of Vice President of Mortgage Lending. She was with BB&L (which sold and was managed under numerous other names) for 43 years and loved her job and made many friends during this time. It was not unusual to run into folks at the grocery store or at a restaurant and have them walk up to her and say Mrs. Martin, Thank You for helping me to build and or buy my first home. While at BB&L, many close relationships were formed with her co-workers and up until her death, these friends continued to meet for coffee and share memories and they came to see her on a regular basis. She treasured these friendships. Upon retirement in 1988, Myrtle began working for Century 21 Mortgage, where she took loan applications from home. She enjoyed this job for a year and then retired completely. It was at this time that she began to garden and craft in her shared workshop with her husband Sam.

Myrtle belonged to First Baptist Church in Bryan. She was an active member of the Brazos County Senior Citizen's Association where she served as an officer for 10 years and as President in 1997. She enjoyed going on Tuesday's to have lunch with her friend's and play bridge. Myrtle also served on the Board of Directors at St. Joseph Hospital in the '80's where she served for a full term and made a close friend in Sister Gretchen Kunz who visited her regularly.

Myrtle enjoyed life and made everyone around her feel loved and special. Gardening, antiquing and sewing were her passions and she loved to share her plants and special finds with her family and friends. She enjoyed going to the lake with her family and playing 42, and fishing with her grandson Austin. She spent countless hours tracing her ancestry with her cousins Ruth Hary, Janice Hunt, and Mary Ann Brunette. She liked to participate in going to her high school reunions and especially enjoyed planning her 60th class reunion with her friend and classmate, Joby Ruffino. Sunday's were her favorite day to visit with her family in the country where she would ride around the pasture, fish, take in the sights, eat a good steak and share a few laughs with the ones she loved.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband Sam Dennis Martin, and her parents Walter William Hicks and Nannie Slaughter Hicks.

She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Glover Birdwell and husband Kenneth, grandson Austin Birdwell and her brother and sister in-law Willis and Billie Hicks and their children, Carolyn Catalena and husband Sammy, Virginia Havens and husband Jimmy Paul, Jim Hicks, Terry Rowan and husband Jeff and numerous great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her niece Cheryl Miears and husband Glenn, Robert Martin and wife Marilyn, Sondra Wolfarth, Marsha Schonekas and husband Russell. Wyman Martin, Tony and Laura Martin, Regina and Mark Clark, and Jay Martin.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to our caregivers at St. Joseph Regional Health Center, Traditions Hospice, Home Instead, The Lampstand Health and Rehab, Celestine Smith, and Vera Ayers. A special thank you also to Dr. Stephen Tseng, Dr. Gordon Mitchell, Dr. Russell Clark, Dr. Samuel Barina, Dr. David Buras and the many Nurses and Aides that gave their time and care to make Myrtle comfortable.

Memorials may be made to Traditions Health Care, 1706 East 29th Street Suite 101, Bryan, Texas 77802 or to Brazos County Senior Citizens Association.

Condolences may be left at www.memorialfuneralchapelbryan.com.