Thelma Fry Martin

Graveside service at Moore Memorial Gardens in Arlington, TX on August 7, 2021 at 2 p.m.

Married to Ronnie Martin

Grown Children: Thomas Eugene Boullt, Jr. and wife Melissa, Lindsey Edward Boullt and wife Julnar, Susanne Mignon Boullt Oakley and husband Robert Douglas

Six Grandchildren: David de la Torre and wife Anissa, Matthew Thomas Boullt, Mitchell Andrew Boullt, Samuel Morgan Wiseman, Robert Dakota Oakley

Three Great Grandchildren: Ashton Rivers Overson, Ezra Boullt de la Torre, Ayanna Bettina de la Torre

She is preceded in death by her parents: Major Bradford Fry and Susan Myrtle Goodgame Fry. Also preceded in death by her four siblings: Nolan Elwyn Fry, Floyd Bradford Fry, Verner Bee Chaffin, and Anne Lois Hughes

She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. She attended Stephen F. Austin Elementary and Jennings Junior High. She graduated from Paschal High School, cum laude from the class of 1952.

She graduated from Arlington State College (now University of Texas at Arlington, UTA) with an associate degree in Drawing and Painting. She also studied at Texas Christian University (TCU), North Texas University, and Tarrant County Junior College (TCJC) taking Education classes, paralegal, and Engineering Drawing.

She married young to Thomas E. Boullt which gave her three children: Tommy, she called her heart, Lindsey, she called her soul, and Susanne, she called the wind beneath her wings. She always said she grew up with her children.

She was an incredible Mother in every way! She was the gentlest, loving, caring, creative, firm, giving, and such a fun Mom. She always made us feel loved, special, and always had our back even in the face of adversity. She exuded these characteristics with everyone she met. She was loved by all.

She worked at General Dynamics as well as did paralegal work for some attorneys in Fort Worth. She later went to work and retired from Bell Helicopter, Hurst, Texas after 24 years. There she held many different jobs and met so many wonderful and influential people in her life. She was able to ride on one of the Helicopters produced at Bell which was the thrill of a lifetime!

She was hearing impaired most of her life. This handicap was incredibly hard for her, more than people know. She still managed to deal in a hearing person’s world but not without it taking a toll on her. So many people lumped her in with the deaf and she made it her mission to help people like her carve their own identities as hard of hearing people. She did need her downtime to “unplug” her hearing aids to help reduce the stress after being in a public or social gathering. In the late 1980’s, she was instrumental in creating the Fort Worth Chapter for what was called ‘Self Help for Hard of Hearing (SHHH)’ but is now the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). She helped write the by-laws and was also the First President of this Fort Worth Chapter. She was pleased when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law was passed in 1990. She did everything she could to ensure businesses supported and followed this law.

She was one of a kind with many varied talents and interests. She was an artist, musician, fitness trainer, author, Ms. Texas Senior Pageant top 10 finalist, selected as National Democratic Texas Delegate for Barack Obama just to name a few great qualities and interests.

Her sister took her to an Art Teacher when she was six years old. The Teacher told her sister that “you couldn’t teach what she had”! Her drawing style was unique and her attention to detail was incredible.

She played the piano from the age of nine. Her musical talent was such a gift, and the family was blessed to always have music in the house. She also taught piano lessons at different times in her adult life. Even though she wasn’t a professional musician, she played at many events, weddings, and parties. Another example of the beauty in her soul.

After she retired from Bell Helicopter, she obtained her fitness trainer certification. She was an inspiration as she was an advocate of exercise most of her adult life but decided to get her certification after retirement. She had a few clients in which she helped them reach their goal. She was always proud of that fact. Her last exercise was part of her daily routine in May 2021.

She also wrote, illustrated, and published a Children’s Book. Because she was an advocate for fitness, that was the subject of her book, particularly around helping spread awareness on how to lessen obesity in America. It was called ‘Geordi Giraffe and the Evil Spell’ which was a story about being health conscious. She went on book tours across the State of Texas as well as in Phoenix, Arizona. She had so much fun promoting and selling this book. In Arizona, she went to her grandson Dakota’s Elementary School and read to the kids during library time. They loved the story and the pictures of the animals she created!

She was also in the process of writing another book about a turkey that just showed up at her house one day. She named him ‘Feather’. They used to play together, and he used to sit outside her window on some hay that she put there for him listening to her play the piano. True story!

As much as she connected with her fellow man, she had an unbelievable connection with animals of all kind. She had countless animals and creatures in her life always! She currently loved spending time with her dog, Koko, her cat, Scarlett, as well as two new young dogs she adopted with her grandson Sam during COVID named Appa and Colby.

She loved her children and grandchildren more than life itself. She enjoyed spending time with them no matter the occasion. She enjoyed when they visited her, when she visited them, travelling, the arts, attending charity events, family reunions, dinner, and clubbing/dancing, but mainly just being together.

When the Grandchildren arrived, she developed a special bond with each of her Grandsons: David, Matthew, Samuel, Mitchell, and Dakota. She loved to watch them in their varied activities. She was always proud of them no matter what they were doing.

She married the love of her life later in her life. Ronald “Ronnie” Elliott Martin. Before he passed in 2018, they had a beautiful, peaceful, happy marriage. They were involved in local events. Ronnie was a Professional Musician with his own Orchestra, so they travelled around Dallas/Fort Worth going to his music events. They both studied Hebrew together for seven years. They were involved in their local Church as well as attended numerous other community events some of which they started or had a Leadership Role.

She also loved her extended family very much! She had a close relationship with her sister-in-law whom she called “Sister”. She had numerous nieces and nephews (and spouses) on the Fry and Boullt side that she had a special relationship with throughout the years. They knew she loved each one of them!

She also reconnected with a lot of people through Facebook, mostly her kid’s childhood/school friends. She was never afraid to learn something new and use the technology to connect with her family and friends that she loved.

As anyone that was a friend with her on social media or otherwise knew, she was not afraid to stand up for what she believed. While she was a gentle soul, she could also be a force with which to be reckoned.

She was known to many by many different names such as Thelma, Sugar, Mrs. Boullt, Mrs. Martin, Mam-maw, Grandma-Mama, Darling but to her kids she was Mama. She was the most loving person any child could ask for in a Mom. She was our heart, our soul, and the wind beneath our wings!

We find great comfort knowing she is in heaven and she can now hear 100%. She is with Ronnie and other loved ones playing music, dancing and drawing.

We forever love you Mama!