Martha "Marti" Lynn Coleman

Dr. Martha Lynn "Marti" Coleman

1953 - 2025

Dr. Martha "Marti" Lynn Coleman, of El Paso, Texas passed unexpectedly and peacefully February 18, 2025 in Carthage, Texas. Marti was born July 17, 1953 in Homer, Louisiana. She was one of three girls born to the marriage of Melba Green and John Reuel Coleman, Jr. She was raised and schooled in Homer graduating with the Homer High School class of 1971. She would obtain her Bachelors at Louisiana Tech University and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine through Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA in May 1993. She was blessed with a loving family and a lifetime of sincere and loving friends.

While attending Louisiana Tech University, she and her best friends Linda Lynde and Rebecca Parnell were students together on the Women's Badminton Team with renowned winnings. Marti was also involved with golf and softball while attending and enjoying all of the recreational activities. Marti has always been a skilled sports enthusiast and one who was ready for any outdoor adventure that were seemingly always calling to her. Marti additionally excelled at photography of nature especially thunder storms and the vast desert canyon lands; downhill skiing, driving her motorcycle, river rafting, driving her jet ski, roller blading, and all kinds of archeology seeking and hiking. Marti also took an interest in being a student private pilot in the late 1990's while in Arizona. She loved Sedona, AZ in the monsoon season. She loved her annual continuing education in Las Vegas as that gave her time to be with special friends and special colleagues to participate in the plethora of education classes. Especially the senior population of small animals for which she enjoyed treating and caring.

Marti knew her purpose and calling early in her life, it was the love, care and animal advocacy. Marti always cared for God's creatures, in particular small animals (dogs and cats) and large animals (horses). In the late 1980's, Marti began her career and was a veterinarian technician for Jacquelyn Rich, DVM at Bellevue Road Animal Hospital, Haughton, LA. This led to her attendance and graduation from Louisiana State University with her Degree in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in May 1993. She then relocated to work for Dr. Rainer, DVM in Dallas, TX. Marti held in Good Standing her State Board Licenses for the states of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

Marti always had an interest for living and practicing veterinary medicine in the Southwest, and those breezes took her to Tucson, AZ in the mid 1990's. She was employed by PetSmart Vet clinic in Tucson and Phoenix, AZ and then in 1999 transferred to the PetSmart Vet clinic in El Paso, TX. She established long and lasting friendships upon arrival to Tucson and Phoenix that remained lifetime. During the Arizona tenure, a new friend grew into a fast "best friend" friendship since 1997. Steff Stewart, was gifted most from Marti for an ongoing reliable, honest and trusting friendship; shared adventures, volunteering and being an integral part to witness her renowned skills. Marti had nerves of steel as a surgeon.

During her career in El Paso, TX she was a full-time relief veterinarian for many of the clinics including the neighboring, Santa Teresa, NM. She developed invaluable friendships with her colleagues and was a cheering squad for those technicians entering veterinary school. A driving passion of Marti's was to be the sole owner and operator of her own business, PAWS, Professional Animal Wellness Services, PC which allowed her to offer low-cost vaccination clinics on the weekends. Her clinic fridge was supplied with vaccines and the freezer was filled with the fun frozen ice "Otter" pops for the kids. Magically she undertook this endeavor with her full-time working schedule. Her low-cost vaccination clinics took her to be of service to the various Native American Indian Reservations and Pueblos in TX and NM and other communities.

During one of these weekend clinics in El Paso a puppy in her carrier, was abandoned during the busy shift, obviously with love. At the clinic the owner was sought but no clues were left. After all failed attempts to locate a possible owner, this puppy became Marti's last and cherished dog she named "Spirit", a 11 lb. terrier mix. Spirit was her well trained and close companion that always accompanied her to work and was included at the relief clinics. Spirit was in jovial recognitions referred to as "Little Ankle Biter" and the name "Chief Bossy Pants" was coined due to her liveliness of keeping her tribe of larger dog buddies in order. When their final days closed, Spirit was there for their consoling and transition. Their animal language was incredible. Spirit lived to age 15 years. Everyone loved Spirit! They were an amazing pair together on Earth.



In addition, her career and lifelong volunteer services provided vaccines, wellness exams and non-surgical medical care to many homebound clients and senior centers. She made animal wellness care a bit easier for those owners who needed a little extra aid, so they could feel a sense of relief for their pet. Marti also enjoyed working the usual Sunday vaccination clinic at Petco and made lasting friends.

Marti was a thoughtful, mindful person who lived her life with purpose. She was a good neighbor, taking care to respect all in her neighborhood. She was a humble nurturing soul and she found joy in extending her enthusiasm of caring for others via the small animal world and heartily participated in senior and children Christmas donation drives.

She loved the anonymous secret Santa Clause gift giving! Her heart held space for everyone.

Marti's natural abilities and compassion recognized the importance of the interplay connection of the animal's health and the owner's well-being. Marti advanced her low-cost quarterly vaccination clinics into the community of Sahuarita, AZ to fill an existing need to the residents in those surrounding communities. These clinics were held for at least 20 years, at Safeway on Sahuarita Road. This was a most welcomed and on-going community success for years until the COVID 19 pandemic brought this to an end. Her early recognition and action led to the increase and availability for the on-going low-cost vaccination clinics in that area. A special thank you of appreciation and remembrance to Dr. Dennis White, for his professionalism and friendship, and to the many staff and supporters of these various clinics.

Marti lived her life confidently, with intention and easily. She lived with daily examples of true compassion and not pity; integrity and honesty, and trustworthiness. Her words and actions aligned. She practiced the Golden Rule and held her friendships close and with respect. These virtues were of her truth and of her heart. She was a very good person. She expanded and widened the hearts and souls of everyone with whom she came in contact. She was an adored and beloved veterinarian during her lifetime career. When she retired in September 2023, she quietly shared and expressed her feelings of missing the medical work, however, she knew she had contributed to providing services to the animals and others while here on Earth. She had lived a full life and was grateful.

It was celebrated that she had! Her heart was full and free! She was looking forward to changing gears to retirement activities. She is now onto bigger services of light and love.

Marti was a humble, treasured and cherished human, animal communicator and healer. She is remembered by her friends and clients as having a great personality, a wonderfully humorous and quick witty sense of humor that would magically lift one's spirits up and as readily seen with an ailing animal. Marti was fun to be with. Marti's presence always expanded one's soul and heart, albeit a 2 legged or 4-legged being. Marti was a very spiritual person. "This world lost an angel as heaven took her home."

She is reunited with everyone, her family, friends and her companion dogs she enjoyed her life with here. Welcome home, Marti...from only a few known 4-leggeds: Buckie, Mitzi, Shamus, Asti, Nugget, Skye Dawg, DeChelly, Mitzee, Uba and Spirit. A lifetime of your touches, have welcomed you at the Rainbow Bridge.



She will be profoundly missed and remembered by her friends, 4-leggeds and family here on Earth. Her jambalaya and chocolate fudge were out of this world, she was a happy cook!

Marti is survived by her devoted sister, Beverly Anglin and her husband Benny of Carthage; nephews and nieces; and many great nieces and nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and special friends, Steff, Rebecca, Linda and many more.

She is preceded in death by her parents Melba Green and John Reuel Coleman, Jr. and a sister, Diane Coleman Smith.

The family suggests memorials to an animal charity of your choice. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Hawthorn Funeral Home, Carthage, Texas.

To send flowers of a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Martha Lynn Coleman, please visit online at: www.hawthornefuneralhome.com select Carthage, TX for an online guestbook and sympathy store.