Holly Jo Martin

Holly Jo Martin (McClelland) was born December 19, 1960. She passed away unexpectedly on June 17, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Beverly McClelland, and her brother Kevin McClelland. She is survived by her mother-in-law, Shirley Jean Martin, and sisters, Stephanie Rice, and Kim McClelland.

Holly loved with every fiber of her being and to a depth that most people would not comprehend. Her rock and the love of her life was her husband of 43 years, Timothy Martin. Their love was truly a gift from God. They still held each other's hands all the time while out for walks, shopping, or on scenic drives. They recently joked they could telepathically read each other’s minds.

Holly was beyond proud of her three children, Timothy Martin, Jennifer Martin-Doran, and Steven Martin. She was a loving mother-in-law to Alisha Martin (Whitman), Grady Doran, and Erin Carmody. She took the greatest pride in her grandchildren, Aaliyah, Aiden, Mariella, Mason, Milly, and Mary Margaret. Holly was known as "Grandma," “Mom,” and “sister” to so many nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and even friends of friends. Meeting Holly, just once, was all it took to create a special bond. You instantly became her “family” and you truly felt her love right from the start. She included everyone and always had an open door and an ear ready to listen. If anyone needed anything, she was just a phone call away.

Holly grew up in Geneva, New York. She was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in 1978 with several scholarship offers. She obtained her nursing LPN before joining the U.S Air Force in 1979. She scored so high on her Air Force entrance exams that she was offered a job in cryptography. After getting her Top Secret security clearance, she began one of the longest technical schools available in all of the Air Force. She did so well in crypto school that the leaders immediately offered her a 4-year controlled tour teaching position. While in the Air Force, she worked as a cryptographic systems instructor in building 9225 in the 3270th technical training group at Lackland AFB. She was a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) who won Instructor of the Month several times and was nominated for Instructor of the Year. She was a USAF Master Instructor. Holly was even nominated and selected to represent the USAF Department of Cryptographic Training in the Miss Lackland Air Force Base pageant in 1980.

We could fill a book listing Holly’s endless talents and skills. She was so smart and creative. She was known far and wide for her party planning, excellent candy making abilities, and her baking skills. Every party that she planned looked like it was fresh out of a magazine and she never forgot a single detail. We will all miss her cooking and baking as it was truly second to none. Holly had a green thumb and could grow anything. She had the most beautiful flowers in the summertime. She knew where all the best deals were and loved a good find at a garage sale, thrift shop, or antique store. Holly was an excellent navigator and could get you from point A to point B a hundred different ways, although she preferred the slow, county drives. She loved to create beauty in everyone's lives through her flowers, decorating, quilting, sewing, crafts, and repurposing. She was truly the best at everything. If anyone could do it, Holly could.

Holly was a December baby and Christmas was her passion. The Christmas experience at Grandma's was grand, extravagant and always unforgettable. She made many precious memories with her beautiful and magical holiday wonderlands.

We were all blessed with wonderful memories of Holly. She will be missed by all who knew her. While nothing can ever replace her, we will all try to live and love as she would have. We will continue to keep our doors and hearts open to all. We will pay it forward every chance we get and we will remember to love with every fiber of our being. We will remember her in the little things like a stop for ice cream, a pretty flower, a good rock or sea shell find, or a country drive. Holly will forever be in our hearts, and she will live on through each of us.