Phyllis Martin
Phyllis Jean Martin, age 90, of Leon, Iowa was born July 20, 1930, to Harry and Susan Irene (Moore) Smith, in Decatur County, Iowa. She died at the Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston, Iowa on February 25, 2021.
Phyllis attended several country schools. She helped her mom in her restaurant then worked with her sister, Joanne, in a restaurant in Indianola, Iowa. It was there she met the love of her life, Doyle Lee Martin. They knew each other a month when they got married on October 13, 1955, at the United Methodist Church in Leon, Iowa. They were married 62 years when Doyle lost his battle with cancer in 2017. To this union were born two daughters, Terri Lynn and Debbie Jo. Phyllis spent her married life along side her husband where she helped milk cows, do chores, rake and pick up hay, and helped build their new home, even putting in two windows all by herself. She loved being with Doyle, no matter what he was doing. Phyllis loved working in her garden and flowerbeds, canning and spent many hours knitting. She loved to travel, visiting 48 states. She really loved spending time with her grandsons and great grandchildren. She enjoyed teaching Danelle how to sew and embroider. The time spent with them was never long enough. The last several years she enjoyed car rides and eating out.
Preceding her in death were her parents; in-laws, Guy and Mary Martin; brother and sister-in-law, Harvey and Betty Smith; brother, Joseph Raymond Smith; Doyle’s brothers and wives, Don and Billie Martin and Darrell and Lue Martin; son-in-law, Gene Naylor; and grandson, Alex Naylor.
Survivors include her daughters, Terri Naylor of Lineville, Iowa and Debbie Morgan and friend, Donnie Thompson, of Leon; grandsons and wives, Lyle & Stacey Potter of Leon, Garry & Jen Potter of Lamoni, Colter & Manda Wright of Osceola, Iowa, and Joseph & Jude Morgan of Elkhart, Iowa; great grandchildren, Danelle & Justin Black of Leon, Kyle Potter of Ames, Iowa, Amy Potter of Leon, Ethan Potter of Osceola, Chase Potter and friend, Sadie, of Kirksville, Missouri, Reese & Nora Potter of Lamoni, Skylar Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa, Alec and Drake Wright of Osceola, and Ali and Aurora Morgan of Elkhart; great, great grandchildren, Dalton and Emitt Dorhn, Remaliah Black, Lea Black, and Tyaile Jones; sister, Joanne and Loren Owens of Indianola, Iowa; sister-in-law, Ruth Smith of Ames, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. We will all miss her kindness, sweetness, and her pretty smile.
Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 2021, with Rev. Albert Hadlock officiating. Burial will be in the Leon Cemetery, Leon, Iowa.
