Martha Tumlinson Casbeer

"Practically perfect in every way" with "impeccable judgment" and a healthy dose of "Little Red Hen attitude." *

Beloved child of God for 80 years, wife of 61 years to Tom, mother of 56 years to Jeff, Carrie and her husband Tom, and Bill, and grandmother of 22 years to Sarah and Luke.

Martha Tumlinson Casbeer passed into the next room on March 8, 2025, at home on Quiet Creek Ranch, in Lampasas, Texas.  A celebration of her life is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at First Baptist Church Lampasas followed by a graveside service at Tumlinson Cemetery.

A Lampasas native and 7th generation Texan, Martha was born at Rollins Brook Hospital and grew up in Lampasas.  She graduated as salutatorian from Lampasas High School in 1962, attended Baylor University for one year, married Tom at First Baptist Church in Lampasas in 1963, and then transferred to Texas A&M where she was one of the first women to graduate (with honors) from the previously all-male school.

Family was always first.  She and Tom started their family in 1968 while living in Memphis, Tennessee.  She cared for her family and managed five cross-country moves with young children before retiring with Tom to their beloved Quiet Creek Ranch in Lampasas in 1997.  

Martha was devoted to her grandchildren and never missed a milestone in their lives.  She was a meticulous and award-winning quilter, avid reader, family historian and genealogist, family photographer (a role inherited by Carrie), entrepreneur (Bunny Business), organizer and list maker, multi-tasker before it was fashionable, and faithful Christian.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lampasas as a child.  In every city where the Casbeer family lived throughout Tom's career, they joined a church and served there.  After retirement, they came back home to Lampasas' First Baptist Church.  Martha worked for 20 years in the church library, helped with 100s of bereavement meals, volunteered at the Lampasas Mission, and served on church committees.

Martha was a devoted student of the Bible.  In 2012, Martha started the Arnold Street Bible Study.  This non-denominational bible study hosted at her Arnold Street house was offered to every woman in town (and out of town) from any spiritual background.  She led the group through 47 different studies attended by over 242 women.  The powerful prayer ministry associated with the bible study touched countless lives.

She loved to spend her time with family (and the baby donkeys, pigs and goats) at the ranch and effortlessly hosted gatherings there from 10 to 110 people.  She kept up with her many friends through her involvement with the church and her Bible study, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Thursday Luncheon Club, LHS Class of '62 gatherings/reunions, and numerous bridge groups.

Martha and Tom loved to travel, especially to their favorite destinations in the mountains of Canada and Alaska.  Family road trips across the country with their children and grandchildren were great memory-makers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Frances Tumlinson, and brother Charles Tumlinson.  She is survived by her childhood sweetheart, her husband, Tom; son Jeff; daughter, Carrie and son-in-law Tom Pool; son Bill; grandchildren Sarah and Luke Pool; and a large extended family. 

Though she is no longer with us here, we know she is only around the corner, in the next room.  In quiet moments when we listen, we can hear her.  In our hearts and memories, we can see her.  When we care for each other, we feel her love.

The family wishes to thank Martha's wonderful caregivers at Texas Oncology, Heart to Heart Hospice and Tina Vanhook. 

 Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. No cut flowers, please. 

*On the night after a very difficult day, the family sat together laughing and coming up with descriptions of each other.  They were supposed to be opposites, but the ones we came up with for Martha were pretty much spot on.