Lucille N Martin

On July 9, 1931, Clara Lucille “Lucy” Norton was born in Ferris, TX to Clara and Willie Norton. She was the youngest of three children and had two brothers, Lawton and Watson Norton.

Lucy moved on to heaven with Ernie there to greet her with open arms on December 5, 2024.

Lucy grew up during the Great Depression and WWII and would tell stories about picking cotton and working at the family store. At the age of five, she was sent to live with relatives in Dallas for a short time due to her father being ill from tuberculosis. At the age of seven her father died as a result of the TB. When Lucy was thirteen her mother died from melanoma. It was back to Dallas to live with extended family. Lucy always said how lucky she was when Uncle Guy and Aunt Delia offered to have her live with them. They raised her alongside their son, Lindy Barton, as their daughter. Lucy would often commit that she doesn’t know what her life would have been like without the commitment of her aunt and uncle.

Lucy attended Arlington State (now UTA) and received her associates then enrolled at Methodist Hospital Dallas School of Nursing. While in nursing school some joint family members arranged for a blind date with Ernie Martin on New Years Eve. They had to make special arrangements and get permission for Lucy to come in after curfew due to the doors being locked at midnight.

On May 22, 1954, Lucy and Ernie were married. They were the proud parents of Cheryl and Carol. Lucy was the support and quiet companion behind Ernie’s various interests, passions, and pranks. They loved entertaining friends from Ernie’s work, their Sunday School Class - Harmony Couples - at First United Methodist Church Dallas, and their various bridge groups. When square dancing clubs were a thing, they belonged to the Stone Steppers. Lucy would make their matching outfits for the square dancing events.

Lucy was a nurse in Oak Cliff for OBGYN Dr. Crutchfield until the girls were born. She did not return to work until the girls were in school. She worked for Dr. Ben Bowden, Family Practice, for 20+ years in the Casa Linda area of Dallas until her retirement. Lucy had a heart for service to others. Her kindness and compassion for others was evident in the way she cared for her patients. Upon retirement she devoted her life to FUMCDallas, volunteering at the Dallas Arboretum, going on bird watching trips with Ernie, trips to South Fork, Colorado so Ernie could fish, hosting others in her home, being with and caring for her grandchildren, and so much more. Everyone is better for having known her.

When Ernie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and his health continued to decline, she was his only caregiver. She took to heart her vow - “for better or worse, in sickness and health” - and never asked for help from anyone. It was hard to get her to leave the house. When Ernie died, they had just celebrated their 59th anniversary.

Throughout her life she was blessed with a wealth of friends and caregivers. The “Friday Social Group” which was really a happy hour/wine group, was her lifeline after Ernie’s death. Veta Boswell invited her to join the group and she met weekly with these women/friends from church.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Charletha Powell (CC Young caregiver), her Caregivers at Brookdale Creekside Memory Care in Plano, TX, Tina - nurse for Amity Hospice and Jennifer - her hospice aide - for their kind and compassionate care of Lucy over the years.

Lucy leaves a legacy of family to carry on her dedication and commitment to serving others: daughters, Cheryl Salmon (Richard) and Carol Kilby; five grandchildren, Christine Ellis (Garrett), Keith Salmon (Kaki), James Salmon(Shannon), Trea Kilby (Leah), and Clara Edwards; along with ten great-grandchildren, Jack, Charlie, Parker and Brooks Ellis, Abby and Luke Salmon, Paige and Lainey Salmon, and Madison and Harper Edwards; nephew, Jim Norton (Sue); and several great-nephews and a niece; plus a great-great-nephews and niece.

Lucy was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie Martin; parents, Clara and Willie Norton; aunt and uncle, Delia and Guy Barton; mother-in-law, Eula Bell Armstrong; brothers and their wives, Lawton Norton (Catherine), Watson Norton (Earlene); and a niece and her husband, Susan Martin (Bob).

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 14, 2024 in the Sparkman/Hillcrest Chapel on Northwest Hwy.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Dallas Arboretum, or Dallas Area Parkinson’s Society.