Martha Munro, 84

Martha Jane Munro, 84, died Friday, Oct. 7, 2005, after suffering a paralyzing stroke.

The family will gather to celebrate Martha's life today, Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m., in a memorial service at the Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. Services are under the directions of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, Mountain Home.

Martha was born on Sept. 5, 1921, to Willis Vernon and Ruby Ethel (Leutwiler) Gould in Washington D.C., and graduated from Burbank High School in California.

She eloped to Yuma, Ariz., with her high school sweetheart, James Ralph Munro, 67 years ago, and they were secretly married on July 3, 1938.

Their first home was on a ranch in the mountains of northern California.

The family migrated to Idaho were they farmed/ranched in Eagle before buying a homestead and farm in Grand View. They later lived in Oreana.

After retiring, they built a home in Garden Valley, but spent a number of winters in Utah and Arizona.

Martha drove the Grand View school bus for many years and was an active 4-H leader.

She was also an accomplished seamstress and especially enjoyed creating clothing for all the family.

She was a member of the Idaho Cattlemen's Association. She also was involved in the Owyhee County Extension Agencies and the Grand View Lady Lions.

"Whether business or pleasure, whatever Martha was involved in, she always gave it her best," her family noted, adding, "each of her grandchildren experienced Martha's great caring for them. She always had interesting ideas for things they could do, and she would sit ever-so-patiently while the children brushed and/or put curlers in her hair.

"Martha was a wonderful example of giving love and living with integrity."

Martha is survived by: her husband, Jimmy, of Grand View; a son, Richard, and his wife, Joyce Munro, of Northglenn, Colo.; a daughter-in-law, Kathy Munro, of Grand View; five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Francine (John) Lightner of St. George, Utah.

She is preceded in death by a son, Larry Munro, and two infant children.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to a favorite charity.