Verna Mae Martz was born Sept. 3, 1943, in rural Bennington, Okla. to Vernon Jesse and Willia Mae (Thompson) Baber. She passed from this life on Aug. 18, 2021, in Denison, Texas at the age of 77 years, 11 months and 15 days.
Verna’s early childhood was spent on a farm in Bennington, Okla. She attended Pebsworth School and graduated from Bennington High School in 1961. Verna went on to attend Southeastern University of Oklahoma in Durant, Okla. for two years. She then moved to Dallas to work in a secretarial position.
While working in Dallas, she met Kenneth Palmer Martz, whom she married Dec. 5, 1964, in Cando, N.D. She stayed home to raise their three children until they were school age. After which, Verna went to work as the Towner County Auditor in Cando for 31 years before retiring and moved to Oklahoma in 2006.
Her hobbies included cooking, vegetable and flower gardening, reading, crafts, sewing, quilting, and she also enjoyed completing jigsaw puzzles. She also loved spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Verna is survived by two sons, Brian (Lisa) Martz of Onalaska, Wisc., and Mark (Maggie) Martz of Cuba City, Wisc.; one daughter, Karla Martz of Farmer’s Branch, Texas; five grandchildren: Kyle Jones, Osan Air Base Korea, Katelyn Jones of Farmer’s Branch, Texas, Breton Clark Martz of West Des Moines, Iowa, Bethany and Daniel Martz of Onalaska, Wisc.; one sister, Glenna Foreman of Boswell, Okla.; two brothers, Jesse Oneil (Lillis) Baber of Durant, Okla., and Walter Ottis (Mary) Baber of Madill, Okla.
Verna was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon Jesse and Willia Mae (Thompson) Baber; her brother, Forrest Dwain Baber, and her loving husband, Kenneth Palmer Martz.
Memorial Service was held on August 21, 2021, at First Baptist Church of Bennington, Okla.
Arrangements under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home.