Martha Lee James

Martha L. James passed away Thursday, November 6th, 2025 at 7:10pm at IU Arnett Hospital. She passed peacefully with her husband and family by her side. Martha was born June 24th, 1943, in Tazewell, Tennessee, to Orville & Rettie Hill. In 1962 the Hill family moved to Talbot, IN. Martha loved cooking and baking. Through that love she met her soon to be husband Kenneth W. James "Wayne", while running the kitchen at the Boswell Livestock Auction, where he worked the ring. In the late fall of November 1st, 1980, in a church in Attica, IN, they gave their vows to each other. They were inseparable from that day forward.

She loved raising cattle and working the farm. When she wasn’t working the farm with Wayne, she loved baking in the kitchen and working her vegetable gardens or flower beds. Martha and Wayne raised two sons, Stan and Kevin, in Rainsville, IN, but her raising didn’t stop there. Martha made an impact in a few young men’s lives. To name a few, she would show Rick Baldock a love for life, everything it has to offer, and always keeping him in check when he needed it. Also, Patrick Cooksey, when he was a teenager growing up, he would spend Wednesday evenings with her, hearing her stories, playing games, and she also kept him in line. Martha and Wayne also raised a grandson full time. Martha had a lot of love in her and a lot to give.

Surviving are as follows: Kenneth W. James (husband),

Grandchildren: Brandon Bowen, Billie Martin, Kenny Bowen, Kevin Schleider, & Amanda Bowen.

Great Grandchildren: Jacob Bowen, M.J. Marter, Taylor Martin, C.J. Martin, Rebeka Andrews, Max Bowen, Anthony Bowen, whitley Bowen, Wade Bowen, Lily Bowen.

Great-great grandchild: Waylon Marter

Sisters: Lucielle Hill and Jennet Moore

Martha was proceeded in death by her two sons Stan and Kevin Bowen; Parents Orville & Rettie Hill; Brothers Harley & Sam Hill; and Brother in-law and Sister Jerry & Geneva Niccum.

If you would like to donate instead of buying flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s’s Children’s Hospital.