Martha Sue Gaines

Martha Sue Gaines, born July 15, 1939, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025. She was 85 years of age.

Martha was born in 1939 to Henry and Jewel Kelly. She had two older brothers, Charles Kelly and James Kelly, all of Idabel, Oklahoma.

She met her husband, Charles Thorne, in Idabel, Oklahoma. As the stories were told, he was a highly persistent suitor and was known to approach her for dates while she was working as a movie theater attendant. She accepted his proposal of marriage, and they were happily married for 59 years before his passing in 2016.

Martha was a skilled educator and performed in that respect for 28 years. She taught grades 1-6 to include serving as a special needs educator. The communities of Idabel, Carmen, Piedmont, and Enid were impacted by her compassion and love for children.

Aside from her work as an educator, Martha was an exceptional culinary enthusiast. She was motivated by her family’s love for food. She followed television cooking programs and was able to mimic and reproduce in an epic manner.

Martha was an amazing, strong, and beautiful woman to those who knew her. She was an absolute beacon of hope and determination to her family.

She is survived by: Her son, Russell Gaines and his wife Kristal of Piedmont, OK and daughter, Kelly Stoner and her husband Steve of Utah, grandchildren Brandon Perkins, Shandi Campbell, Dustin Gaines and his wife Elizabeth of Piedmont, OK, Ashlee Gaines of Piedmont, OK and Zach Stoner, her great grandchildren Stevie Campbell, Maverick Gaines, Marshall Gaines, Harrison Gaines and Mason Gaines all of Piedmont, OK, her sister in-law(s) Linda Reich of Idabel, OK and Barty Shipp of Idabel, OK.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charley Gaines of Piedmont, OK, her parents, Henry and Jewel Kelly of Idabel, OK, her brothers, Charles Kelly of Idabel, OK, and James Kelly of Idabel, OK.

A private memorial service will be held with family.