Juanita Martin

(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)

Juanita Lee Martin joined her beloved husband Rodney and many family members in Heaven on Sept. 14, 2021. Juanita lived 101 years, and she taught all of us the importance of loving and cherishing family. Her immediate / extended family was her everything, and she was happiest when she was in their presence.

Juanita loved many things, but traveling and playing Poker or Bridge with her brothers, sisters, family and friends were definitely her favorite pastimes. Juanita also loved sewing (she sewed clothes for her granddaughters and made their Barbie dolls matching clothes), cooking, music, dancing, volunteering, crossword puzzles, reading, gardening and animals.

Juanita had many titles: wife (of more than 70 years), mother of two daughters, grandmother of two granddaughters, great grandmother to four grandchildren and great-great grandmother to one grandson, oldest sister to seven siblings, aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt to many, and friend to all who met her.

Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren (and hopefully other family members) benefited from her kind, gentle, fun-loving and generous personality, and she was always our biggest cheerleader. She attended dance recitals, piano recitals, track meets, gymnastics meets, softball and volleyball games, and every high school boys’ sport where her daughters or granddaughters performed as cheerleaders. She was there. In the front row. With Poppy. Cheering for her family and the team. She gave us thousands of memories that we hold dear today because she cared enough to love, support and be present in our lives.

Because Juanita lived for 101 years, there are too many stories to be told on paper. Each of us has a story. Her life made a positive impact, and that’s what we all strive to do. So, I’ll sum up how she lived with this short story. She was in her early 90s, and I was visiting her in Joplin. We watched Golden Girls and started talking about the importance of friends. Nanni reached for my hand and said (paraphrasing because I didn’t write it down verbatim) “friends are really important, but just remember, sometimes you outlive friends, like me and your Poppy have, but you’ll never outlive family because someone always comes after you. You are born with and you leave with family.” She patted my hand and asked me to make her a root beer float. I did.

Juanita never had a bad word to say about family. As much as we gave her joy, I’m sure we disappointed her, too, but she found the silver lining every single time and chose to focus on the good. She made us better. She loved us, cheered for us and picked us up when we needed help. Today, more than ever, her example of love, kindness and generosity reminds us all that family is everything.

Juanita is survived by Pam Evans, daughter, and Dave Evans, son-in-law, of Bentonville, Arkansas, Cheryl Martin Ede, daughter, and Terrence Ede, son-in-law, of San Diego, California, Kelsa Brown, granddaughter, and husband Rob Brown, of Burleson, Texas, Gina Noble, granddaughter, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Braxton Noble, great grandson, of Lowell Arkansas, Chase Brown, great grandson, of Norman, Oklahoma, Branon Brown, great grandson, of Joplin, Missouri, Bailee Brown, great granddaughter, of Joplin, Missouri, and Cayden Brown, great-great grandson, of Joplin Missouri. Sister Eva Mae Williams of Raytown, Missouri, sister Helen Cupp of Joplin, Missouri, sister Nina Hirshey of Joplin, Missouri, brother Bob Middleton of Olathe, Kansas. Juanita was preceded in death by husband Rodney Martin, 2010, Iva Middleton, mother, and Oscar Middleton, father, brothers Don Middleton and Mike Middleton.

Funeral services have been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 20, 2021 at the Mason-Woodard Chapel. Burial will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends during a time of visitation at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 3 p.m. and again on Monday beginning at 9:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.