Martha Joane Crow born in Vernon, Texas, on July 20, 1931, to Jesse and Nora Mathews passed from this life in Durant, Okla. to her Eternal Home on September 19, 2021, at the age of 90.
Martha grew up in Vernon, Texas (with her parents and siblings) moving to the Bay area of California at the age of 14. She met and married Ralph Tapia on March 9, 1948, she became a loving wife and mother. In 1968, Martha and Ralph parted ways. In 1972, she met the love of her life, Jesse Crow, and a year later married and moved to Durant, Okla.
She enjoyed owning and operating J&M used furniture store and J&M Ceramic Shop in Durant. She and her husband Jesse also ran auction houses in the Southern Oklahoma area until 1979 when they relocated to Caddo, Okla. and resided until Jesse’s death in 2001. Martha also worked for the EZ Mart Corporation 1986 until her retirement in 1999. She enjoyed ceramics, but when she was no longer able to do those, she got interested in puzzle books and television game shows.
Martha’s greatest achievement and blessing in life were her beloved children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Crow was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Nora Mathews; Ralph Anthony Tapia the father of Linda, Ralph, Marshall, Doris, Trena and Raymond; her loving husband, Jesse T. Crow; son, Marshall Tapia; son-in-law, Lonnie White; son-in-law, Dennis Doremus; granddaughter, Sandra Ketelson; brothers, Vesta, Bill, Carlos, David and Jay Mathews; and sister, Mary Durden.
Mrs. Crow is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – daughter, Linda White, grandson, Kevin, and great-granddaughters, Courtney and Cassidy; son, Ralph Tapia and wife Charlotte, granddaughter, Shelly Bitomske, great-grandchildren, Ryan and Rachel; daughter Doris Doremus, granddaughter, Deauna Mansfield and husband Michael, great-granddaughters, Bethany, Adah, and Abi, granddaughter, Danielle Doremus, and great-grandchildren, Jhovanni and T’Kyia; daughter, Trena Tapia-England and husband Thomas, granddaughter, Therese Smith, great-granddaughters, Alexis and Hailee, granddaughter, Tonya Walker and husband Michael, great-grandsons, Terrance and Dom, granddaughter, Nichole Branch and husband Brian, great-grandsons, Shon, DJ, and Bradley, granddaughter Breanna, grandson Elijah England, grandson Toby England. Son Raymond Crow and wife Robyn, granddaughter, Amanda Crow, great-grandchildren, Audriana, Joey and Noah, granddaughter, Alicia Crow and great-granddaughters, Allie and Ana, granddaughter, Brittney Davis and husband Daniel, great-granddaughters, Mersades, Danaya, Daijia, and Daelyn, grandson Andrew White, grandson John-Paul White and wife Chelsie, granddaughter, Elizabeth Throne and husband Taylor, great-granddaughter, Brooklyn, granddaughter, Rebecca Ensaldo and husband Edel, great-grandson, Gael, granddaughter, Nicole Austin and husband Jailon, great-grandson, Jai’arii.
Family hour will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.
A funeral service in her honor will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Chapel with Rev. Tom England officiating. Her final resting place will be the Gethsemane Cemetery in Caddo, Okla. with pallbearers Michael Walker, Brian Branch, Elijah England, John Paul White, Lance Elliott, and Shon Smith. The honorary pallbearers will be D. J. Smith and Michael McVeigh.
Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.