Pearl LaVonne Martin

Pearl LaVonne Martin, 79, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Thursday, September 24, 2009, at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington. She was born July 6, 1930, at Oconto, Nebraska to Clarence and Verna Mae (Lovitt) Stockham. Verna Mae died in 1933, when Pearl was not quite three and her sister, Shirley was nine months old, from scarlet fever. Her father then married Verna Marguerite Flint. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Oconto High School in 1947. Pearl received a teaching certificate from Kearney State Teacher’s College and then taught school in the Callaway/Oconto area. She talked fondly of staying in the students homes during the school week and during severe weather. Pearl married Clifford A. Martin, Jr. on February 18, 1951. Two sons were blessed to this union: Charles and Gayle. They farmed near Callaway for one year and near Oconto for three years before moving to the Lexington area in 1955. Pearl contracted polio in 1952 and spent a number of months hospitalized. She used crutches for the rest of her life as a result of the polio. When she first saw the poem “Footprints” she thought it was for her during her polio. Pearl and Clifford joined the Berean Bible Church in 1960. She taught Sunday school to the 2 and 3 year olds for many years. She loved the little children and taught them the song “Jesus Loves Me.” Pearl loved her grandchildren and frequently babysat them and more recently she loved the hugs and phone calls from her great-grandchildren. She met her most recent great grandchild, Regan Michelle, on Saturday preceding her death. Survivors include two sons: Charles (Anita) Martin of Lexington, Nebraska Gayle (Joanna) Martin of Almena, Kansas One sister: Phyllis (Rodney) Kratzer of Lexington, Nebraska Nine grandchildren: Jeremy (Gail) Martin of Hershey, Nebraska Bryce (Valerie) Martin of Grand Junction, Iowa Amy Martin of Ames, Iowa Trevor (Rachel) Martin of Marcus, Iowa Cory Martin of Almena, Kansas Nathan Martin of Dodge City, Kansas Braden Kersch of Grand Island, Nebraska Richie Kersch of Norton, Kansas Brianna Martin of Almena, Kansas Four great-granchildren: Chase Elliott Martin and Regan Michelle Martin of Hershey, Nebraska; Landon Jacob and Callie Noel Martin of Grand Junction, Iowa Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Clifford; brother Jim Stockham; sisters, Shirley Nelsen, Doris Jean Wackerla, and Charlene Kay Stockham; Brothers-in-law, Frank Wackerla, Keith, Kenneth and Don Eggleston and Jim Davis. Funeral Services will be Monday, September 28, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the Berean Bible Church in Lexington with Pastor Glenn Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery at Lexington. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 27, 2009, from 2-4 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the Berean Bible Church. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home of Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Online expressions of Sympathy may be directed to: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.