Otha Lee Martin's Obituary
Otha Lee Martin, 95, of Moravia passed away on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at the Monroe Care Center in Albia.
The youngest of six daughters of Mamie Brown Darby DuVall and Otha Daniel DuVall was born on Aug. 3, 1921, at her parents home in rural Monroe County northeast of Moravia. She grew up on the farm until the family moved to town for the girls to attend high school in Moravia. She graduated with the MHS Class of 1937 at the age of 15. She attended Drake University in Des Moines, earning a Standard Elementary Life Certificate in 1939. Through summer school and Saturday classes she completed a third year of college.
Otha Lee began her teaching career at Wyman in southeastern Iowa in the fall of 1937. Her career, which lasted 44 years, also included Albia, Davenport, and Moravia. She retired from Moravia Community Schools in May 1986.
On March 17, 1946, Otha Lee married AW Martin at her parents home in Moravia. They were the proud parents of three children; Michael Lee, Sally Ann, and Imo Jane.
Otha Lee was baptized in the United Brethren Church of Moravia in 1933. She was a longtime member of Iowa State Teachers Association and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was an avid reader and a huge fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs.
Those left to honor Otha Lees memory include her daughters Jane of Hacienda Hts, CA and Sally of Moravia; grandchildren Michael (Kelly) and his wife Bonita of Horatio, AR, Sean, Sarah, and Brian of DeQueen, AR, Nathan of Newton, IA, Stephanie (Nick) Coleman of Littleton, CO; Andrea (Brad) Scott of Moravia, & Travis (Sadie) Johnson of Weldon, Iowa; ten great-grandchildren, Michael (Micky), Karissa, Abigail, Logan and Noah Martin of Arkansas; Sean Eli and Alyssa Martin (Dustin Waterhouse) of Knoxville, IA, Alexa and Hadlee Bedford and Grady Scott of Moravia; great-great grandsons Mason Coleman of Littleton, CO and Owen Waterhouse of Knoxville; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and former students.
Otha Lee was preceded in death by her husband Archie on April 29, 1985, her son Mike, sisters and brothers-in-law; Winnie and Harry DuVall, Opal and Bill Wilson, Doris and Forrest Main, Maxine and Bill McNabb, and Madge and Bruce Gardner; and her great-granddaughter, Jerrica Martin.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, January 27, 2017 at Lange Funeral Home in Moravia with Pastor Ken Martin officiating. Burial will follow the service at Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia. A visitation will take place on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Lange Funeral Home in Moravia from 10AM-7PM, with the family present from 5-7PM. At Otha Lees request, a memorial has been established to the Moravia Public Library, and may be mailed to Lange Funeral Home and Crematory, 1900 South 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.
Visitation
2017-01-26 10:00:00
19:00:00
Lange Funeral Home & Crematory
103 N. John Street
Moravia
IA
52571
Funeral Service
2017-01-27 14:00:00
Lange Funeral Home & Crematory
103 N. John Street
Moravia
IA
52571
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