Martha Turner Bauguss

Mary Martha Fuller was born in 1940 and raised in Hemphill, the small town in East Texas which then had a population of 972. Her childhood in Hemphill had a profound impact on her remarkable life. It was there that her early interest in music drew her to study education in college, that working in her family’s dry goods and feed store delivered early lessons in salesmanship, and that her faith in God was established, which was the constant guiding force in her life.

Martha graduated from the University of North Texas in 1962 with a degree in music and elementary education. While in school, Martha met her first husband on a blind date and relocated to Austin where he was attending law school. Known for her seemingly endless energy, Martha took a part time job selling lingerie for Montgomery Ward in addition to teaching school. It will surprise no one that Martha sold more underwear working part time than her cohorts sold working full time! Then, she and a fellow teacher borrowed $1,000 from her hometown banker and started a successful wig store in her first entrepreneurial endeavor.

Martha moved to Houston in 1966 and taught school in Spring Branch and at River Oaks Baptist. After a 15 year teaching career, Turner retired from the profession in 1978. While teaching, she remodeled, built, and sold several homes, which sparked a passion and love for real estate. She attended the University of Houston, earned her real estate license in 1979, and joined a local real estate firm, immediately becoming a top producer. In 1981, undeterred by the severe economic recession of the early 1980s, Turner and a friend, Nancy Owens, decided to open Turner-Owens Real Estate, which became Martha Turner Properties in 1986. After her first husband passed away, she remarried Glenn Bauguss in 1988.

While working in her family’s dry goods store in Hemphill, Martha would often daydream about her future while playing with paper dolls as she dreamed about getting dressed up every day to go to work. These childhood dreams became reality as Martha became an iconic leader in Houston real estate.

Alongside her husband Glenn Bauguss and business partner Tom Anderson, Martha grew her eponymous real estate firm with her unique blend of energy, optimism, and humor to become the largest independent brokerage in Houston and one of the most successful in the nation. As a leader, Martha viewed her greatest responsibility was to keep those around her inspired, which proved to be a winning strategy and earned her recognition from the State of Texas as “Houston’s most inspiring businesswoman.”

In 2009, Martha’s vision and career was recognized via induction to the Texas Business Hall of Fame. At the time, she was one of only seven women to have received this honor. Those in the Hall of Fame include President George H.W. Bush, Ross Perot, T. Boone Pickens, Mary Kay Ash and Gerald D. Hines.

In 2014, after eclipsing more than $2.3 billion in annual sales, Martha and her business partner Tom Anderson, sold Martha Turner Properties to Sotheby’s International Realty of New York. The firm continues to bear her name today as Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty.

Martha was an adamant believer that “to whom much is given much is expected” and through her devotion to numerous civic, philanthropic, and professional leadership roles demonstrated that she was much more than a real estate agent and instead a true agent of inspiration and encouragement in the community. Her efforts in support of health care, women's organizations, the arts, and education have been widely recognized and earned her a reputation for generosity and commitment to service.

Always the light in the room, Martha was known for saying “to be successful, you have to love what you do, love the people around you, make everyone feel special, and realize that you are the only person in charge of your life.”

Martha is survived by her husband of 33 years Glenn Bauguss, Jr, her cherished daughter Deasa Turner and her grandson Turner Hall, son Glenn Bauguss III and wife Angie, daughter Gayla Nizzi and spouse Mike, daughter Clee Ferris, and Grandchildren Jensen Nizzi Duncan, Macyn Nizzi, Kai Lyon, Hanaleigh Ferris, Anaya Ferris, Mariella Ferris, Bailey Bauguss, Bella Bauguss and great-granddaughter Kacie Duncan as well as Martha’s brother Tommy Fuller and children Trey Fuller and Missy Gibbons and husband Nick and their children.

Martha’s Hemphill family included her father Deas Fuller, mother Lucile Fuller and numerous families, some aunts and uncles are (Doris, Woody, Dr. Hiram, Dr. Hugh, Dr. Tom) Arnold, and some of the cousins and their family include Duke Lyons, Robert A Spears, Carolyn Wilkinson, Mary Ann Spears-Howell, Tom E. Arnold, Cherry Arnold Whigham, Ginger Arnold Kilgore, Dr. Charlie Arnold, Dr. Tony Arnold, Dianne Arnold Morrison, Jan Arnold Barton, and Tom Arnold, Jr.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Martha during a visitation from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 19th of April 2022, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 23rd of April 2022, at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 8300 Katy Freeway in Houston, where Reverend Richard Harris, Senior Pastor will officiate. Those unable to attend the service in-person my join the livestream of the service by visiting Martha's memorial tribute page at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the "Services" section.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Honorary pallbearers include all staff and sales associates at Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty, Tom Anderson, Ray Witt, Brad Nelson, Geren Graham, Roger Wernette, Mark Hall, Jeff Marino and Ed Eubanks.

Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private entombment in the Texas Liberty Mausoleum of Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Martha’s honor may be directed to: The Get Together, The Martha Turner Memorial Fund, 12335 Kingsride Lane, #115, Houston, TX 77024 or online at https://thegettogether.org/donate-now. The following are the ministries that The Get Together partners with that work with women, something that was dear to Martha’s heart: Angela House: helps women transition out of prison; Bel Inizio: helps disadvantaged women through nutrition programs and exercise; LueWish: grants wishes to women who have cancer or have overcome heart disease or domestic violence; Gracewood: helps provide a home for women and children; The Landing: helps survivors of sex trafficking; The Mission of Yahweh: provides transitional shelter to women and children.

You are invited to take a moment to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with her family by selecting the “Add A Memory” icon below.