Martha Kate (Franklin) Noble

Martha Kate (Franklin) Noble, endearingly known as “The Little One”, “Kate Bug”, and “Momma Domma” was whisked away quietly into Heaven on October 24, 2020, where she was welcomed and hugged by Jesus, her Mother and Father, and many other relatives and friends. She is a Christian.

Kate was born on January 12, 1936, in Star City, Arkansas, the daughter of Frank Hundley Franklin and Maude (Tucker) Franklin. She began school in a one room schoolhouse in Nady, Arkansas. She was recruited to start first grade a year early because there were four boys in Nady to go into the first grade, and the teacher wanted a girl in the class.

She grew up in Hamburg, Arkansas and graduated in 1953 in the Honor Society. She was in the band and manager of the basketball teams and also played piano and organ for Hamburg Methodist Church. Kate attended Arkansas A&M in Monticello, where she was the program director of KHBM radio station on campus and had her own radio show. She later moved to Pine Bluff (Watson Chapel), where she worked in advertising for Sears and Roebuck. In Watson Chapel she served as a Cub Scout den mother, PTA president at Edgewood Elementary, and Sunday School teacher.

Kate was always excited to move and live in cities such as Atlanta, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City. For her business career she was an Office Manager and Regional Sales Manager for World Book Encyclopedia for 32 years. During her career she traveled to all the major U.S. cities, and many times to Canada, Bermuda, Cancun, Mexico City, Acapulco, Nassau and Puerto Rico, before retiring in the Lake Hamilton area of Hot Springs.

During the “Summer of ‘72”, she sped her ski boat dam to dam all over Lake Hamilton teaching teenage visitors to waterski. She never got in the water...because she couldn’t swim. Years later on Lake Hamilton, she was always happiest driving her barge with a large group of gal-pals who named themselves the “T.N.T.’s” (At least most of them had big Tiaras). She was highly intelligent, independent, brave, beautiful, and had no fear. Her favorite hobby was “Big Time” shopping with her granddaughters.

Kate loved her two children, three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, friends and Blue Point Siamese cats. Her body may have left all who knew her, but her legacy never will. From Oaklawn (where she tried for perfect attendance - which we jokingly told her there was no prize) to the Razorbacks and generations of family memories on Lake Hamilton, Mother Kate’s spark for life and love of family will be forever felt. Always one to take you up on a walk down memory lane (or a climb up North Mountain), she loved sharing stories around the kitchen table that would leave everyone laughing in tears. She passed down both stories and traditions, keeping the joy of family at the center of her life. She honored her father’s legacy of kindness in spirit by the way she lived and loved, just as her surviving family will honor hers.

Kate is survived by husband Leslie Carrol, son Mark Allen Noble and wife Patty of Sherman, Texas, daughter Jane Ann and husband Captain Lorne Martin of Bellingham, Washington. Also survived by grandchildren Amber (Noble) Byrd and husband Sean of Atlanta, Georgia, Caroline Martin of Portland, Oregon, and Captain Spencer Martin of Ashland, Oregon, great-granddaughters Reagan Noble-Pruitt of Atlanta and Presley Bryson of McKinney. She is also survived by sister Jane and husband John Hunter Buatt of Bastrop, Louisiana, niece Natalie Poche’ and husband Jimmy of Youngsville, Louisiana, nephew Hunter Buatt and wife Cathy of Collierville, Tennessee, as well as three grand-nieces and one grand-nephew.

A special appreciation tribute to Myra Young for four dedicated years of caregiving and love, and to the Kindred Hospice group of Susan, Jessie, Natalie, Judy, Dr. Bharany and all others with Hospice. Should you choose: a memorial could be sent to any of the following; Trinity Church Hot Springs, Area on Aging in Hot Springs, your local church or Humane Society.

Cremation care was provided by Davis-Smith Funeral Home.

A memorial and celebration of Kate’s life will be held at a later date on Lake Hamilton.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.