Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

We (Mom, Dad, Becky and I) arrived in Huron, South Dakota a few hours ago and will be here all week to visit family and attend memorial services in honor of my Grandma who passed away Friday night. Be thinking about the Martins this week as we are together from all over the world to celebrate the life of a very special lady.

Four Generations. December 2008. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The first time Grandma Martin met her (then!) newest great-grandchild. (Colt – 6 months old) 

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Jean Martin, age 87, of Huron, died Friday, January 22, 2010, at Huron Regional Medical Center.  Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 AM Thursday, January  28, 2010, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with the Rev. Terry Anderson as celebrant.  Burial will be in the St. Patrick?s Catholic Cemetery at Cavour.  Visitation will be from 1 to 8 PM Wednesday, January 27th at the Kuhler Funeral Home with a Scripture Service and Rosary at 7 PM, led by the Rev. Shane Stevens.  Memorials may be directed to the Presentation Sisters of Aberdeen or the Holy Trinity Catholic School. 

E. Jean O?Rourke Martin was born October 24, 1922, at Mobile, Alabama, to Michael Vincent and May (Stockman) O?Rourke.  She grew up in Mobile and graduated from Murphy High School.  She was employed at Brookley Army Air Field in Mobile after graduation, where she met her future husband, Edmund Thomas Martin.  They corresponded during the war and were married on March 4, 1946, shortly after his return to the United States. 

Jean and Edmund lived in Granby, Colorado for a little more than two years before moving to Huron in 1948.  They made Huron their home, where Jean soon became a busy mother raising her children, and an active volunteer in P.T.A., and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  She taught piano lessons, including lessons to all of her daughters.

Jean returned to work outside the home after her children were older and was employed for many years at the Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  She volunteered as  a Pink Lady for many years through the Huron Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, and also was a volunteer in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Huron Concert Association and the Huron Symphony League.  A member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, she was active in parish activities, including Catholic Daughters and the Altar Society.  Jean was also a member of the Y.W.C.A., TOPS, the Huron Area Senior Center and PEO Chapter CH. 

Jean enjoyed playing Scrabble and in addition to her membership in a local Scrabble club and the National Scrabble Association, she competed in state Scrabble.  She was a world traveler and had traveled to many locations in Europe and Asia, and had most recently walked on the Great Wall of China. 

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edmund; her son, Paul; three grandsons, Mark Wigington, Tom Martin and Sherlock Hirning Jr.; three brothers; and two sisters. 

She is survived by her children, Katherine (Richard) Wigington of Huron, Edmund ?Frank? (Candis) Martin of San Antonio, Texas, David (Susan) Martin of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, John of Sioux Falls and (Sheryl) Martin of Vermillion, Marie (Dr. Sherlock) Hirning of Chadron, Nebraska, Elaine (Jon) Hilton of Huron, Daniel (Diana) Martin of Derwood, Maryland, Janet Sargent of Mitchell, Nebraska, and Brian (Sang Ju) of Aviano, Italy; her daughter-in-law, Robyn Martin of Phoenix, Arizona; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law Betty Bergstrom of Huron and Audrey O?Rourke of Grand Island, Nebraska; her brother-in-law, Robert Still of Mobile, Alabama; and many nieces and nephews. 

Grandma Martin's Register Book is HERE.