Bessie Gertrude (Porter) Martin (1888-1977)

PORTER, MARTIN, SMITH, OLESEN, GILMORE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal March 12, 1977 (page 3)

Obituary

Bessie Porter Martin

Mrs. Bess Martin, formerly of Nevada, died Saturday, Feb. 26 in the hospital in Avon Park, Fla., after several years ill health. Services were held in Avon Park, Fla.

Bessie Gertrude Porter-Martin was born Nov. 24, 1888 at Castana, Iowa, the second of five children, four daughters and a son born to Ira David and Fannie Iowa Porter.

Bessie spent her early girlhood in Onawa, Iowa and Elk Point, South Dakota where she attended church school and adademy. Her father died shortly after the family settled at Elk Point. Bessie's mother then moved the family Mount Pleasant, Iowa so as to be near her own relatives.

As a young woman Bessie worked as a colporteur in the Watertown, South Dakota area where she met M. Richard Martin to whom she was married New Year's Eve, 1908. To this union was born three children Mrs. Grace Elizabeth Smith of Adelphi, Maryland, Francis Richard Martin of Avon Park, Florida and Chester LeRoy Martin of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Richard and Bessie celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on New Year's Eve last.

Bessie was an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church all of her life, a wonderful spiritual influence on all who knew her. She was a Christian example of kindness and patience through every trial and illness. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by an older sister, Amy and a younger brother Louis. She is survived by her husband, the three children, two sisters, Mrs. Florence Olesen of Avon Park, Fla. and Mrs. Leola Gilmore also of Avon Park, Fla., twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.