Helen G. Martin

Funeral service for longtime Ione resident Helen G. Martin was held 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at the Ione Community Church, interment to follow at High View Cemetery.

Mrs. Martin, 93, died Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Heppner.

She was born January 12, 1916 the daughter of Ralph A. and Florence Graves Horton, near Milton, Oregon. Her family moved to Walla Walla where she attended Washington Grade School through the second grade. The family was transferred to Astoria where she graduated from high school in 1943. While living in Astoria she enjoyed sailing. She attended Albany College and Willamette University. She worked at various jobs in Salem and Astoria. She met Fredrick T. Martin at Suttle Lake Methodist Camp near Sisters, Oregon. The couple married February 22, 1941 at Astoria.

She and her husband lived at Madras where her husband was a wheat farmer in partnership with his father and brother. Three Children were born to the couple. When irrigation came into the area, the couple sold their land in Jefferson County and purchased a wheat ranch east of Cecil in Morrow County in 1949. Later, they farmed the Carl Troedsen Ranch near Ione. The family of five lived in Ione, where the three children graduated from high school. The couple moved to Hermiston Terrace Assisted Living facility in June 1996.

Mrs. Martin was a member of the Hermiston United Methodist Church. While in Ione she was an active member of the United Church of Christ, now the Ione Community Church, acting as moderator, church school teacher, and superintendent of the Sunday school, pianist, organist, and choir member. She was active in PTA and Ione Garden Club. She made and created many floral arrangements for church, school, and community functions. She served on district and state committees of her church and garden club and was Director of the Blue Mountain District of the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs for four years. As a state and national life member, she attended most state garden club conventions and a few regional and national conventions when held in the Pacific Northwest.

Working and exhibiting in the flower division of the Morrow County Fair was a favorite activity, winning “Best of Show” several times. In 1994, she was named “Senior Queen” in a ceremony at the fair. She and her husband also traveled extensively. She enjoyed taking slide pictures and learning all there was to know about the countries they visited.

Survivors include sons; Melvin E. Martin and his wife Shawlene of Moses Lake, Washington, Ralph A. Martin and his wife Nona of Wilsonville, Oregon, daughter; Jean M. Brazell and her husband Al of Lexington, Oregon, sister; Lucy Todd, brother; Raymond E. Horton both of Roseburg, Oregon, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild. Preceding her in death were her husband of 55 years, Fredrick T. Martin, who died in 1996, her parents, infant brother, Stanley Paul Horton, and her oldest brother; Lester R. Horton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hermiston United Methodist Church, 191 E Gladys Ave., Hermiston, Oregon 97838 or the Ione Community Church, PO Box 346, Ione, OR 97843, or to Pioneer Memorial Hospice, PO Box 9, Heppner, OR 97836.

Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in charge of arrangements.