Anne Martin

Anne E. Martin’s friendly personality shone like a beacon – compassionate and hopeful for everyone around her. She was a selfless and giving person that never passed up another in need. Throughout her life, Anne was a model of devotion and love, a smart and funny mother who illuminated and touched many lives.

Anne Elizabeth Martin came into the world in the midst of the Roaring 20s on December 26, 1927, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her parents, Albert and Wilma (Beattie) Davis, were delighted with the newest member of their family. Anne was the third of the four Davis children and as the only girl, she was her father’s little princess and was treated as one too. Anne happily grew up with her brothers on their small family farm where they raised livestock. In fact, Anne’s father was not a full-time farmer, being also employed with the railroad, while her mother worked as a nurse at Borgess Hospital. The farm offered many opportunities for fun growing up and Anne loved the farm animals and playing with her dolls in the barn. As a teenager with three brothers, they seemed to get into their fair share of mayhem, particularly raiding watermelon patches and barely evading getting caught. Another time, while in town at the theatre, she was goofing off after the show and missed her ride home, which she then had to walk from Plainwell to her home in Alamo. Anne received her formal education in the area schools and graduated from Plainwell High School in 1946.

In 1947, a wonderful thing happened to Anne – she met her future husband, John T. Martin. At the time, Anne had a crush on a young musician and she went to see him play one night and inadvertently met his brother, John, and they fell hopelessly in love. They were happily married a year later in Mountain Home, Arkansas. After saying “I do”, the newlyweds started a home in Alamo and a family complete with five children: Jim, Mike, Tom, Nancy and Linda. To support their large family, Anne and John owned and operated a Union 76 gas station on the corner of Douglas and Ravine Road in addition to Anne working as a sub mail carrier. The job that Anne came to truly love was driving a bus for the Plainwell Public Schools for 13 years then at Parchment Schools for 7 years before retiring in 1997.

Anne loved being a mother and was always very involved in their schooling and other activities. Her children were blessed with an active and fun-loving mother, who made every day interesting and their friends often liked hanging out at the Martin house because of all the fun. With a wonderful sense of humor, Anne never missed a chance to joke around and on one memorable occasion, she wrapped her grandson’s three-wheeler in saran wrap as a practical joke. Anne loved the holidays, especially Halloween when she could purposely dress in costume. She was a good cook and could whip up a meal in just 20 minutes. Time together as a family was always important and they took many memorable vacations in the summer to Arkansas, Texas and New Mexico.

Retirement brought extra time to spend with her family and other interests. As a woman with strong faith, Anne regularly attended church with her children at Cooper Baptist Church, Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Mattawan and Alamo Congregational Church. Some of her hobbies included bowling, going garage saling and gardening. She used to take the green beans from her garden to her mother’s nursing home so the ladies could sit around gabbing and “snap” the green beans too. Her choice of music was gospel and country, but also enjoyed her player piano and even took lessons for a while in order to play.

Throughout all her life, Anne always had a smile on her face and laughter in her heart. She was a ray of sunshine for those close enough to receive the gift of her warmth. Anne will be deeply missed and frequently remembered.

Anne Elizabeth Martin of Alamo Twp, MI, died on Monday, January 3, 2005, at the Alamo Nursing Home after a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John T. Martin in 1996; and a brother, Bob Davis. Anne’s family includes her children and their spouses: Jim (Gayle Smelker) Martin, Mike (Pat) Martin, Tom (Janet) Martin, Nancy (Dave) Veld, and Linda (Charlie) Veldt all of Kalamazoo; brothers: Don (Wilma) Davis of Palmdale, CA, and Bill Davis of Marcellus; grandchildren: Lori (Rory) Strand, John (Marti) Veld, Debi Veld, Kyle Veldt, Marc (Jessica) Martin, Tonya Martin, Marsha Martin, MiChele (Derek) McDonald; great-grandchildren: Nathan and Taylor Strand, Aija Rozentals Veld, Kamden Martin, Ethan McDonald and Alison Martin.

To learn more about Anne’s life, friends may visit with her family on Thursday, January 6, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 7, at the same location. Please visit Anne’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.