Eunice M. Martin

Mrs. Eunice Maxine Philgreen Martin, 89 of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away, Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at the Kansas City Hospice House, after suffering a 2nd stroke.

Eunice was born in Topeka, Kansas, July 29, 1924, the third of 4 children of Ernest Philip and Veda Urvilla Hart Philgreen. She attended Shawnee Grade School and graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural (now North) High School in 1942. She received her B. A. degree from Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas, in 1950. That same year, on August 19th, she married Gorby R. Martin, Baker University assistant coach and former classmate. After high school she worked five years in Southwestern Bell Telephone Company's Revenue Accounting Department. She taught 4th grade for 24 years at Junction Elementary School in the Turner District of Kansas City, Kansas. She began teaching in 1960 when her husband attended U.M.K.C. Dental School and afterward, retiring in 1986.

Eunice joined the Shawnee United Methodist Church with her parents and siblings in 1930 and had been a faithful member since that time. She was also a member of its Keystone Sunday School Class; an active member of the church choir for over 70 years; a member of the Shawnee United Methodist Women and its Martha Fellowship Group. She was program chairman for the Ambassadors, the church's senior citizen group, for many years.

She also was a member of the Shawnee Mission Women's Chorale, Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers Sorority, the Johnson County and Wyandotte County Retired School Personnel Associations, Johnson County Genealogy Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Colonists, and a volunteer at Old Shawnee Town Museum.

Eunice was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Dr. Gorby R. Martin, in 2006, her parents, her sister, Lillian Van Arsdale, and two brothers, Floyd A. Philgreen and Rev. E. Edward Philgreen.

She is survived by her daughter, Sue Ellen Martin; sons, G. Ray Martin, of the home, Dr. Alan J. Martin and wife Debbie, Shawnee, Dr. Steven K. Martin and wife Kim, Lenexa, and Dr. Philip H. Martin and wife DebO, Lenexa; and five grandchildren, Jeffrey Martin, Shawnee, Hillary and Blake Martin, Lenexa, Rebecca and Alexander Martin, Lenexa.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, August 23, 2013, at the Amos Family Funeral Home. Celebration of Life service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 24, 2013, at Shawnee United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shawnee United Methodist Church, 10700 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66203.