Like a Spitfire, she came roaring through life. She was full of energy, blessed with faith, and powered by passion. Not to be held down by stereotypes, she was a tomboy with class. She loved basketball, baseball and any other activity she could get herself into.
Martha was a graduate of Columbus High School and received a Bachelor's degree from Hanover College where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She majored in PE because she loved sports, but she minored in Chemistry, so her parents would know she was taking college seriously. She taught both, with style and flair. She taught at Dunkirk High School ad substituted for many years in Bartholomew County.
She wore flannel just as well as she wore pearls. The classy farm girl caught herself a Boilermaker who became a sailor who became a diehard Hoosier fan who became a farmer. She married Wayne K. Jaquess on June 12, 1955. They set five kids loose on the world, and she became their mother, confidante, cheerleader and, finally, friend.
She worked tirelessly for church, Rainbow Girls and Girl Scouts, home economics club and campaigning against hunger. She turned children into adults, cream into butter, groceries into masterpieces, and a pile of fabric into her daughter's wedding dress. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with all her heart and all her might, becoming their most loyal and faithful prayer warrior.
She fought battle after battle with scary-sounding problems, and she won... until she didn't. And just like that, she was gone. Oh, but what a legacy she leaves behind, in her children, her grandchildren, her community and her friends.
Martha is survived by her children, Jacqueline (Doug) Denny, Gary Wayne Jaquess, John Mark Jaquess, M. Ben Jaquess, all of Grammer, Indiana, and David Lynn (Orlando Silva) Jaquess of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Amberly (Tony) Lopez, Stewart, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Jenna, and G. Adam (Christine) Jaquess, Samantha (Casey) Miller, and Ashley (Brian) Millis; and great-grandchildren, Oran Jaquess, Mackenzie, Caroline, and Cora Millis, Gabby, Isa, and Theo Lopez.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her daughter-in-law, Michelle.
A Funeral Service for Martha will be held Monday, November 30 at 1 p.m. at Myers-Reed Chapel. The service will be Livestreamed from the Funeral Home's Facebook page. A link to the livestream will be posted on www.Myers-Reed.com. Burial will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, November 29 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Additional visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Memorial Donations in Martha's name may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or Grammer Presbyterian Church.
In keeping with Indiana guidelines, masks are required in the funeral home and social distancing must be followed. You may be asked to wait outside the building for a short time in order to stay within the allotted capacity inside the building.
She has fought a good fight. She has finished her course. She has kept the faith. She was fond of saying, "There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!" Today, Mom, we are thankful for you.
