Vera Mae Martin

It is with profound sadness that we note the passing of Vera Mae Martin, 93, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri on July 4th. Vera was born on the family farm on October 31, 1932, the youngest of five children of Henry and Laura Schroder in Grant, Nebraska. While Vera enjoyed the farm, it was off to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend secretarial school. It was in Lincoln that she met Les Martin on a blind date, and they were a natural couple. They were married August 31,1952 and Jim was born as Les finished his degree in civil engineering in1954. Les joined the military after college and Russell was born in 1955 in El Paso, Texas, and then they moved to Washington State. In 1956, the family moved to Denver for Les’ job with the Precast Concrete Institute where Scott was born in 1956, and Sharon in 1960, rounding out the family that Vera was always very proud of.

Les’ job as a civil engineer took them from Denver, to Grand Island, Nebraska, to Des Moines, Iowa and then Chicago where he was a partner for the Consulting Engineers Group (CEG). In Illinois they lived in the suburbs of Arlington Heights and later Prospect Heights. As Les’ career grew, Vera was at her best organizing and preparing the family for activities, organizing their home, and volunteering. Her skills as a wife and mother, designer, and organizer grew and she developed her own style, eventually establishing her own home consulting business Designed by Vera. She had the knack and flair to make things beautiful.

In retirement, Vera and Les moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas to the house on the lake, designed to be big enough for the entire family. We had great family gatherings, with boating, tubing, and fishing. In 2005, Les passed away and Vera sold the house and relocated to a townhome in Bella Vista- still with plenty of room. In 2020, Vera decided she wanted to be closer to family and moved to John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit where her oldest son Jim and wife Kelley were glad to have her so near and well taken care of. At John Knox she continued to be the social person she always was, happy to be of help to anyone.

Although she enjoyed great health and took no prescription medications, she slowed down and after two falls and a broken hip, Vera was called home on July 4th. Her family was with her, and sad about her passing, but glad she did not suffer for long.

Vera is survived by her children Jim (Kelley), Russ (Kathy), Scott (Linda), Sharon (John), her 11 grandchildren- Charlie (Crystal), Laura (Barry), Dan (Melissa), Ben, Caleb, Tim D, Tim M (Elizabeth), John (Meg), Anna (Joey), Rachel, and Michelle, and her 11 great grandchildren- Christian, Lincoln, Canaan, Eden, Madison, Quinn, Gibson, Susie, Avrielle Vera, Gwendolyn, and Josephine. She lived a happy life and had much to be proud of, and her family was proud of her and the life and faith she lived by. We love you Mom and will always miss you.

There will be a life celebration at John Knox Village Chapel (In the Administration Building at 400 NW Murray Road) at 3 pm on Saturday July 18th, and a family gathering at the Westside Lounge from 5 pm on that same day. Vera will join Les and be interned at the Bella Vista Cemetery on Sunday, July 19th at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Lee’s Summit (1625 NW Obrien Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64081) or John Knox Village Foundation in honor of Vera M Martin (www.jkv.org/foundation, please include her name).