Martha P. Mead

1931 - 2025

Martha P. Mead

May 2, 1931 - August 7, 2025

Marty passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the age of 94, on Thursday, August 7th. A true force of nature, she dedicated her life fully to her family, music, community, and faith, leaving an indelible mark on the Magic Valley and beyond. She possessed a remarkable ability to multitask and bring people together to make things happen. Her unwavering devotion manifested in numerous leadership roles, resulting in local and state-wide recognition. Even amidst her whirlwind of responsibilities, she was known to declare with a laugh, "Someday I'm going to get organized!" a testament to her tireless energy and determination.

FAMILY: Born and raised in the U.S. Steel factory town of Gary, Indiana, through the Great Depression and World War II, Marty developed resilience, tenacity, and patience. Growing up, she acquired her competitive edge from two notable rivals: her brother, Bob Phillips, a lifelong Democrat, and Shirley Temple, whom her father adored but kept assuring Marty that Shirley was a distant second.

While studying English at Purdue University and a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she met her husband, David Mead, another force of nature in his own right. Dave utilized Marty's writing, typing, and computer abilities; she lovingly served as his ghostwriter throughout their marriage. She supported his endeavors while raising six children.

MUSIC and MENTORSHIP: Trained at the prestigious American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Marty's musical talents flourished. She also received an invitation to join the acclaimed Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians touring troupe, but turned it down to build a life with Dave. Shortly after moving to Twin Falls, they, with the help of others, founded the Magic Valley Dilettantes, a musical theatre group that debuted with "Carousel" in 1959. This led to the formation of the Magic Valley Symphony in 1960. Both groups raised substantial funds to build the CSI Fine Arts Auditorium, the first facility on the CSI campus.

As a mentor, she always found time to encourage people of all ages and talents. Upon arriving in Twin Falls in 1957, she taught voice lessons to students with a wide range of talent, instilling the disciplines of practice, rehearsal, and confidence. Because of her dedication to youth, she founded the Jump Company (Junior Musical Playhouse), a musical theatre group in 1984 that gives teens a chance to shine on stage. Later, she led a group of her young voice students to form La Chanteuse, a touring group that sang in many of Europe's great cathedrals. Her dedication to family and community led to her receiving Idaho's Mother of the Year award in 1989. Her final musical production was fulfilled at the age of 91. She directed the last of four talent shows at Bridgeview Estates Retirement Home by leading a group of reluctant and nervous seniors to sing and dance in comedy skits...proof positive that telling her "Sorry, Marty, I can't sing and dance" never deterred her relentless recruiting efforts.

COMMUNITY and CHURCH: Marty also gave her time generously to various philanthropic and civic organizations, including PEO, Music Chorale, Music Club, Magic Valley Symphony, and the Presbyterian church, enriching the cultural fabric of her community. A devout member of the church, she sang in the choir for over 60 years and served on numerous church committees.

Marty and Dave's six children legacy includes Peggy Boelk (Rich) of Truckee, CA, Janie Hemingway (Jerry) of Kirkland, WA, John (Cindy) of La Mesa, CA, Phillip (Kris) of Moscow, ID, Becca Sundali (Bill) of Ketchum, ID, and Mitchell (Susie) of Scottsdale, AZ; ten grandchildren, Matthew & Christopher Gerdin, Becca Cohn, Brook Biggerstaff, Jordan Mead, Spencer Mead, Halsey Heinrich, Lindsey Pierce, Ashtyn Deak, and Hannah Mead, as well as 11 great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, August 14th, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Twin Falls. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Jump Company or The Magic Valley Symphony. https://jumpcompany.org/sponsorships/ or https://www.mvsymphony.org/how-to-contribute.