Elsie Martin
May 19, 1924 ~ Sept. 20, 2019
On Sept. 20, 2019, Elsie Martin of Meeker peacefully departed this life to join her beloved husband Clifton “Bud,” infant son Douglas, and her daughter Maureena “Rena.” Elsie was born and raised in Brush, Colorado, to the late Ervin and Lola Tompkins. She had three older siblings and would often lament on the hardships of being the youngest child, which included being the last to get the bath water!
She married Clifton “Bud” Martin on March 13, 1947, and followed him all over Colorado while he worked on the road crew for the Colorado Department of Transportation. CDOT moved them to Meeker in 1948 where they lived for the remainder of their lives. They raised four children: Lois, Charlene, Maureena “Rena”, and Larry. After Rena’s death, they raised her daughter, Laura.
Elsie worked at the Meeker Café and for the Meeker School District as one of the beloved “lunch ladies.” For many years she would have children come up and give her hugs in the grocery store and the post office because she “fed them lunch” and to this day it is a firm belief of many Meeker school kids that a cinnamon roll goes with chili. She was skilled at gardening, crocheting, needle point, and coloring with her grandchildren. After Bud and Elsie purchased a motorhome, camping and traveling was something they dearly loved until Bud’s death in 2001.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband Bud, infant son Douglas, and daughter Rena. Elsie is survived by daughters Lois Stone and Charlene Whaley (Howard), son Larry Martin and granddaughter/daughter Laura Smith (David). Grandchildren: James Amick (Paula), Teri Chamberlain (Steve), Pamela Guzman, Charles Whaley, Wayne Whaley, Mark Whaley, Jennifer Martin, Shane Martin, Amber Martin, Renae Cottrell, Brittany LeBleu, Brittany Smith and Meghan Smith; 26 great-grandchildren and 22 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held for Elsie at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at the Church at Meeker in Meeker, Colorado.
