Betty Martin

Betty L. Martin (Lois Elizabeth Crose Martin) was born on October 27, 1924 to parents Loyd and Edna (Ratliff) Crose in Moberly, Missouri. In 1946, she graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S. Home Economics. Immediately following college, she held cooking classes to promote the use of gas appliances. From 1950-1958 she was a revered Home Economics and Biology Teacher at the Hillsboro R-3 School District. On April 8, 1951 she married Samuel E. Martin in Moberly, MO. Together they had three children, Donna, Curt, and Lois.

Betty was a great wife, mother, and grandma. She was an impressive cook with an outgoing personality and often referred to herself as Rachael Ray of the 50’s. She was also talented with math and helped Sam with the bookkeeping for his construction business. Betty lived a life of balance by sewing, knitting and counted cross stitching- all while watching the St. Louis Cardinal games and rooting on her favorite player Yadier Molina.

Betty was deeply involved within the Hillsboro community. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Hillsboro. She volunteered for the American Cancer Society and Next Step for Life. She also served the Hillsboro community by being a member of the Hillsboro R-3 School Board. She was a member of the Hillsboro Garden Club, the Modern Seekers Club, the Missouri Snowbirds, and the Red Hat Society.

Betty passed away on December 17, 2019. She is survived by her three children, Donna (Jay) Soto of Fayetteville, NC, Curt Martin, Ironton, MO, and Lois (Mark) Menius, Kansas City, MO; her three grandchildren Amber Rodriguez, Fayetteville, NC, Stephen (Nicole Tennyson) Menius, St. Louis, MO;, and Rebecca Menius, Kansas City, MO; and her great-granddaughter, Luciana Rodriguez, Fayetteville, NC. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Samuel E. Martin, her parents, Loyd and Edna Crose, her siblings, Dorothy (Charles) Fleming, Roy (Hazel) Crose, Frank Crose, and sister-in-law, Pearl Crose.