Martha Hash "Marty" Gootee

Martha "Marty" Gootee, born Martha Marie Hash on January 8, 1938, in Dublin, Georgia, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2025, in Marietta, Georgia surrounded by members of her immediate and extended family. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, Martha's vibrant spirit and deep love for life left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Martha is survived by her devoted husband, Steve Gootee; her children: Michael (Damita) Underwood of Moorhead, Minnesota; Rodney Underwood of Greenville, Pennsylvania; David Parrish Underwood of Smyrna, Georgia; Richard Farris Underwood of Greenville, Pennsylvania; and Cheryl Tillia of New Castle, Pennsylvania., as well as 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ella Louise Patrick Hash and Elbert Terry Hash; infant son Richard (Richie) Underwood and siblings William (Bill) Hash, Kenneth Hash, Curtis Hash, Frances Cannon Hembree, and Mary Ann Young.

Throughout her life, Martha found joy in the simple pleasures that nature offered. She was an avid gardener whose hands were rarely without soil during the springtime-a season she especially cherished. Her love for birdwatching brought her countless hours of peace and wonder as she observed the rhythms of the natural world. Whether tending to flowers or watching birds flit through the trees, Martha embraced each moment with awe and gratitude.

Her passion for the outdoors extended beyond her garden. Martha loved camping in the mountains of north Georgia with family and friends. These trips were filled with laughter around campfires and quiet mornings sitting by the creek, surrounded by the majestic beauty of the southern Appalachian Mountains-memories that will be treasured forever by those who shared them with her.

Perhaps one of Martha's most enduring legacies lies in the lives of children she nurtured over more than two decades as a nanny. With loving warmth, kindness, and patience, she cared for over 100 children throughout her career. Her gentle presence provided care, comfort and guidance to many young lives and lasting support to numerous families.

To honor Martha's life and memory, a Celebration of Life Picnic will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Riverside Park Pavilion located at 513 Allatoona Dam Road in Cartersville, Georgia. All family and friends are warmly invited to bring a dish to share and join the family in remembering and celebrating her remarkable life.

A graveside service will follow on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Mountain View Cemetery at 410 Whitlock Avenue in Marietta, Georgia. The service will begin at 2:00 PM.

Martha's legacy is one of love-for nature's beauty, for children's laughter, and for the family she held dear. She will be missed forever by those who knew and loved her. May her memory bring comfort and peace to all whose lives she touched.