Rita Martin

RITA MARTIN WAS A STRONG WOMAN FOR 92 YEARS.

WIFE FOR 76 YEARS
MOTHER FOR 75 YEARS
GRANDMOTHER FOR 45 YEARS
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER FOR 26 YEARS

MEMBER OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 60 YEARS.

RITA MARTIN DID NOT LIVE LIFE WITH A SAFETY NET

SHE WAS THE SAFETY NET
TO HER FAMILY AND HER CHURCH.

WITH A HUSBAND “ON THE ROAD”, AS A SELF-EMPLOYED TRUCKER, A MAJORITY OF THE TIME…

RITA TOOK ON RAISING 3 KIDS, ALWAYS HAD A FULL-TIME JOB AND WAS DEVOTED TO HER CHURCH. THE ROLE AS MOTHER EXPANDED IN HER 50’S WHEN SHE AND HER HUSBAND “BILL” ADOPTED THEIR 1ST GRANDCHILD AND RAISED HER AS THEIR DAUGHTER.

IN HER “ROLE” AS MOTHER, RITA WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR HER KIDS. BE IT SUPPORTING THEM IN LIFE, SCHOOL, AND SPORTS, TO WHIPPING THEIR BEHINDS WHEN THEY NEEDED IT… WHICH WAS OFTEN!

THERE WAS MANY A COACH, REFEREE OR UMPIRE THAT WISHED SHE WASN’T QUITE AS VOCAL IN SUPPORTING HER KIDS IN SPORTS. RITA LOVED HER RAZORBACK AND ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. WATCHING A GAME WITH HER IN PERSON, AT THE GAME OR ON TELEVISION WAS AN EVENT ITSELF.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF SUNDAY DINNERS, HOLIDAY FEASTS, OR TACO NIGHTS SHE PREPARED FOR HER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND DRAG INS.

HER CHICKEN AND DRESSING STILL CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. SOME BELIEVE IT WAS IN THE CORNBREAD PANS AND DRESSING SHE USED.

RITA WAS A DEVOTED MEMBER OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, OF ROSE CITY, FOR OVER 60 YEARS. RITA TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL, SERVED ON THE FINANCE AND PASTOR COMMITTEES. MANY A PASTOR “WALKED IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND RITA MARTIN”.

RITA WORKED AS A OFFICE MANAGER, FOR A MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANY, INTO HER 70’S TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE CARE FOR HER HUSBAND’S FAILING HEART.

IF YOU WERE A FAMILY MEMBER AND HAD A CHILD OR A DOG, YOU LEFT THEM WITH RITA MARTIN, BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE. YOU KNEW THEY WOULD BE PROPERLY FED, WATERED, LOVED, AND SCOLDED… AS THE NEED AROSE.

SHE LOVED WORKING IN HER YARD… FLOWERS, TREES, SHRUBS, AND TOMATOES. SHE HELD AN ONGOING BATTLE WITH THE SQUIRRELS OVER HER TOMATOES AND BIRD FEEDERS. SHE GOT TO BE A PRETTY FAIR SHOT WITH A PELLET RIFLE.

ONCE IN HER 80’S, HER WEEDEATER WENT MISSING. ONE DAY SHE WAS COMING HOME FROM THE STORE, SHE NOTICED A YOUNG MAN WALKING DOWN THE STREET, NEAR HER HOME, WITH THE MISSING WEEDEATER. SHE STOPPED AND EXPLAINED TO THE YOUNG MAN THAT HE HAD HER WEEDEATER. AFTER A VERY SHORT CONVERSATION, RITA WENT HOME WITH HER WEEDEATER.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE A HUSBAND, SISTER, SON, DAUGHTER, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, SON-IN-LAW, GRANDCHILD, GREAT GRANDCHILD, NEPHEW, NIECE, FRIEND, FELLOW WORKER OR CHURCH MEMBER TO RITA MARTIN.

WE WILL MISS HER

THE WORLD WILL MISS HER

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE RITA MARTINS.

Rita Sue Martin born March 31, 1928, passed away in her sleep on October 16, 2020.

The daughter of Porter Vaughan and Bessie “Mama Bess” Vaughan of Searcy, Arkansas. She is the wife of Billy J. Martin, Sr., who preceded her in death in 2004. She is survived by one sister, Pat Clay, of Sherwood. Rita was also preceded her in death by two sisters, Gertrude Martindill and Wanema Beck of White County.

She is survived by two sons, Billy J. Martin, Jr. (Judy) of North Little Rock, and Porter V. “Pete” Martin (Carol) of Little Rock; two daughters, Debra S. Martin and Angela M. Flournoy (Scott) of Sherwood; six grandchildren, Andy Martin (Nicole), Amanda Tracy Smith (Tucker), Caitlyn Walker, Hayley Board (Paul), Kate Hughes, and Taylor Hughes; four great-grandchildren, Lauren Tracy, McKenzie Tracy, Maddie Martin, and Zoey Martin.

Viewing will be 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Graveside service will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at White County Memorial Gardens in Searcy, Arkansas.

State of AR COVID-19 directives: Face coverings required.  Maintain social distancing.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.