Mary Lee Marten

Mary Lee Stover Marten, of Butler, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at the age of 92. She was surrounded by her two children, Karen Marten Ramsey and Thomas Marten, along with her lifelong friend, Grace Sechler.
Mary Lee, also affectionately known as Marnie, Neuters, and Momsie, was the glue of her family. She was an amazing wife and mother. Bob Marten, her husband, and her children knew they were loved unconditionally every day of their lives. She nurtured her children with a love of music, art, and laughter. Broadway musicals were a favorite with "A Chorus Line" being at the top of her list. Her children knew the words to musicals by the time they were in kindergarten and loved singing out tunes from "Gypsy," "The Sound of Music," "South Pacific," and "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Mary Lee was introduced to her husband Bob by her brother, Tom Stover. Tom arranged a blind date between the two at Ohio Wesleyan University. Mary Lee first saw Bob as he came down the steps at the Phi Theta Kappa fraternity house. It was love at first sight, and she said she knew immediately that he was the man she would marry. They married on Oct. 15, 1955.
Mary Lee had a way about her that made people feel good. She took an interest in everyone's lives and became a confidant to many, a second mother to many of her children's friends, and a special guest at all family get-togethers. She gave the best grace at meals and all looked forward to just what might be important that day to include in her blessing. In many ways, she truly was what Mr. Rogers of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" spoke of when he said "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
Her children have been comforted by the outpouring of affection, support, and lovely thoughts sent to them. They have described consistently the woman Mary Lee was in life. Loving, caring, comforting, funny, loyal, easy to know and love, "the best of everything," kind, and having strength of spirit and faith.
She shared a special friendship with Patricia Thompson Anwyl and the late Nancy Cook Stroop. The three were considered by each other as "the bestest of friends." Since childhood, Pat, Nancy, and Mary Lee shared wonderful adventures, laughter, love, and loss. A journey only these three could make together always supporting each other.
Mary Lee was a lifelong member of Covenant United Presbyterian Church in Butler, where she was an elder and sang in the choir. Her church family and her faith in God were very important in her life and provided her with strength in times of need and joy in times of happiness. She also was actively involved with Junior Women's Club, Mental Health Association, Interfaith Alliance, and PFLAG. Until her death, social and political causes were important to Mary Lee.
Mary Lee had several jobs, but the one she loved most was being a teacher's aide at McQuistion School working with children with special needs. She learned a lot from Dolly Allison who was the teacher of the class and became her friend and mentor. Even at 92 years old, she remembered her students' names and what she loved about each of them.
While she didn't have two-legged grandchildren, she did have four-legged grand doggies and grand kitties. Most recently, Tally and Cuddles, her grand doggies, and Blanche and Lily, her grand kitties, were showered with her love and affection. Mary Lee had her own dog, Pup, whom she cherished until he passed years ago.
Finally, Mary Lee's obituary has to mention the fact that she was a "chocoholic," a connoisseur of all things chocolate. Fudge, candy bars, Hershey Kisses, chocolate chip cookies and no bake cookies! Her favorite was what became known as Marnie's Hot Fudge Sauce. This was a staple in life and the most requested food for her to make was her hot fudge sauce and ice cream!
The last year or so of her life was difficult. She faced numerous medical issues that caused her pain and discomfort. Yet even through it all, she never lost her ability to laugh or to make others laugh and smile. Her strength, humor, and spirit shone through right to the end.
Special thanks to her family at Newhaven Court at Clearview. Mary Lee spent the last two and a half years at Newhaven making it her home. She loved the staff and they loved her. She gained a couple or so daughters there. In addition, much thanks and love to her favorite doctor, Dr. Kathryn Szabo and her staff. Mary Lee trusted Dr. Szabo inherently and came to love her not only for the support and care that she provided but for her friendship as well.
Mary Lee is survived by her children, her son-in-law, Fred Humphreys; her sisters, Pat McCafferty and Susan Lehman, and many nieces and nephews from the McCafferty, Ehrman, Lehman, and Stover families.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Allen Marten; her mother, Ethel Dobbs Stover; her father, Paul Stover; her son-in-law, Ronald Ramsey; her sister, Evelyn Ehrman; and her brother, Tom Stover.
MARTEN - Friends of Mary Lee Stover Marten who died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, and 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St., Butler.
A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. James E. Swanson and Brian F. Graff, C.P. officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the Marten family suggests donations to the following organizations:
The Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, P.O. Box 911, Shanksville, PA 15560 or visit their website at www.flight93friends.org.
PFLAG, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Butler PA Chapter, PO Box 326, Lyndora, PA 16045 or by PayPal at www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/5450104.
Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053 or visit their website at www.butlercountyhs.org.
All who knew Mary Lee are encouraged to share memories and upload photos to her unique remembrance page at www.thompson-miller.com.