A celebration of life service is scheduled for 2pm, Tuesday Dec. 1 at Calvary Episcopal Church, 123 S. Ninth St. followed by a reception at the church.
Marty was born on Oct. 27, 1926 to Clifford and Neleta (Southwell) Stephens in Oklahoma City. She grew up in Shawnee, OK, with her sister Ann, where she loved the outdoors, riding horses and playing badminton and became a three time State Badminton Champion for Oklahoma. She got her love of flying from her father and was one of Oklahoma's early female pilots.
She graduated from Christian College in 1946 and received her B.A. from the University of Missouri in 1948, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and met her future husband, Bill and they married in 1948. They began their life together in Kansas City, MO and moved to Columbia in 1959.
Marty loved her family, coaching and tutoring her three sons and attending all their practices and games - and serving as a beautiful and thoughtful hostess to many football game buffets and parties. And she loved her role as 'Nana' to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She served on the House Board of the Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and also served as Treasurer of the sorority's national board; her work expressed her love for the Kappas. She also served on the Board of Trustees for Columbia College for many years and saw the college grow and prosper during her time of leadership. She enjoyed the Episcopal Church and encouraged her sons to serve as acolytes, choir members and Sunday school teachers.
Marty's husband Bill passed away in 1993, after which she reconnected with Bill's best man, Jerry Thomasson, who attended Hickman High School and MU with Bill. Marty and Jerry fell in love and married in 2001 and were blessed with almost 10 years together before Jerry's passing in 2010. Marty not only fell in love with Jerry, but also Jerry's family, who she loved as her own. They split time between their homes in Roseburg OR and Columbia and experienced numerous transcontinental road trips together and wonderful vacations with her children and Jerry's daughter Tammy, her husband Kurt and their children. They had a fairytale romance, dancing together at midnight, sharing opinions on current events, sporting events and their love of reading. They made each other very happy.
Marty was a very beautiful, caring, thoughtful person - thinking of others before thinking of herself - and always making those around her feel cared for and loved. She was a great role model of a loving, giving spirit - much like Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree - which one of her son's dedicated to her as a gift.
Marty is survived by her sister Ann (Charlie) Cottingham, brother in law Ray Thomasson (Merrill), sons, Steve (Sandra) Toler, Ted (Sue) Toler and Scott (Sara) Toler and stepdaughters Tammy (Kurt) Mobley, Linda Lamb, Shannon Hubbard. and stepsons Ray (Carol) Jones, Greg (Jody) Thomasson, She is also survived by seven beloved grandchildren, Matt Toler, Michelle and Heather Hilliard, Courtney (Brian) Austin, Colby and Caroline Toler and Hallie Riutcel and nine beloved stepgrandchildren, R.J. (Shannon) Jones, Amy Jones, Craig (Nikki) Jones, Mari, Logan and Lucas Mobley, Chelsea Hubbard, Eamon Thomasson and Cheri Hernandez and three beloved great grandchildren, Emma, Annabelle and Luke Austin and six beloved step great grandchildren, Stephanie, Angel and Christopher Hernandez and Dashiell, Viviette and Anika Jones.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to The Koller Educational Foundation of Kappa Gamma, c/o Marberry & Eagle CPAs, 414 East Broadway, Suite 200, Columbia MO 65201. This fund offers scholarships to Theta Chapter Kappas. Memorial donations to The Koller Foundation are tax deductible.
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