Martha Spence Chaney

Martha Chaney of Atascocita, Texas left us for greener pastures on February 19, 2023, she was 88 years old. Martha was born in Jacksonville Texas on June 13, 1934 to Jack and Violet Webster. Martha grew up in Huntsville Texas and graduated from Huntsville High School. Soon after high school, she met Jack Spence. They married on October 15, 1953. She attended Sam Houston State University getting her Bachelors in Elementary Education and later, a Masters Degree in Library Science at Stephen F Austin University.

Martha taught at Huffman Elementary School for 25 years. She lost Jack to cancer in August 1988. 5 years later, just after retiring from Huffman ISD Martha married Martin Chaney, a doctor in Huntsville Texas. Martin happened to be a shipmate of Jack’s aboard the USS Essex in the 1950s. He had similarly lost his wife. They were married in December 1993. Martha was an active member of the Crosby Methodist Church in Crosby Texas, the Lake Houston United Methodist Church in Huffman Texas, the First United Methodist Church in Huntsville Texas and the Atascocita United Methodist Church in Atascocita Texas. She avidly participated in the choir at each place.

Preceded in death by her parents, sisters Virginia Pump and Mary Hartnett, her husband Jack, her sons Ralph Spence and Jack Webster Spence, and her husband Martin Chaney. She is survived by sons William Spence, James Spence, Larry Spence and daughter Amy Hayden. Stepsons Tim Chaney, Micheal Chaney and Sean Chaney. 9 grandchildren, 7 (almost 8) great grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren. Pallbearers: Jimmy Spence, Jake Spence, Kyle Spence, Tim Chaney, Sean Chaney and Camden Chaney.