Martha J. Thomas

Martha J. Thomas, 95, of Lakeside, Navajo County, Arizona passed away on April 9, 2015 at her home in Lakeside. She was born on October 15, 1919 to Abe and Flossie (Adams) Johnson in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona. She is survived by her children, Terry V. Hall (Shirley), Darl L. Hall (Linda), Delauna Hall Stephenson (Bobby) and Mary Thomas Carver; 18 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Raymond B. Johnson, Cliff Johnson (Joyce) and son-in-law, Veldon Hoopes. Martha is preceded in death by her first husband, Lamar Hall; second husband, Judge F. E. "Red" Thomas; son, Gary D. Hall and wife, Donna; daughter, Matha Gail Thomas Hoopes; son-in-law, Norman D. Carver; sister-in-law, Vernell Johnson; 4 grandchildren, Michael Carver, Brooke Stephenson, Mark Carver and Darrin Hall. Martha lived and raised her children in Lakeside, Arizona and also lived in Snowflake and Maverick, Arizona. She married Lamar Hall on June 1, 1936 when she was only 16 years old in Lakeside. They were married for 25 years before he died in a logging accident in Chevlon Canyon (near Heber) on June 13, 1961. She remarried on April 20, 1963 to F.E. "Red" Thomas and they were married for 25 years. Together they blended a family, his children, Mary L. Thomas Carver and Martha Gail Thomas Hoopes became her children also. Martha was a widow at a very young age. She was left with an older son, a son on a mission in Argentina, a 17 year old son at home and a 6 month old baby girl to raise. She had quit her job at Caldwell's to have her baby and she had no income. She struggled to provide for her family but she saw that each child had proper clothing and that they never went to bed hungry. Martha had various jobs besides working at Caldwell's Store including cooking at the Lakeside School Cafeteria. Her lifetime career was with the United States Post Office in Lakeside following in her mother's footsteps. She worked there for 27 years. Martha loved babies and children. Her favorite part of working in the Post Office was watching babies grow into adults. She loved seeing friends and neighbors there and loved visiting with them. The most important thing to Martha was her family. They were the center of her world. She loved hosting family dinners, campouts and picnics. A very tidy person, she had to keep her appearance and her house in perfect order. She always planted seasonal flowers in her flowerbeds, including roses, tulips and snapdragons. She was a very kind, selfless, easy-going lady. She had a sunny disposition and loved to hear a good joke. She had an impeccable memory; she knew every Lakeside Post Office box number, who they belonged to, and all the zip codes in the State. She knew the names of all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren until her last days. She suffered many tragedies in her life including a brother who burned and later died and another brother that fell through the ice on Rainbow Lake and was later found. All of which made Martha a strong and caring person. Since her second marriage became to a Justice of the Peace, Martha was never alerted by late night calls, unexpected visitors or weddings at the drop of a hat. She would always make sure everyone was welcomed with open arms, fed and she would often pick fresh flowers for the many brides that would show up. A life-time active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints she held numerous callings throughout the church including, Stake callings, Relief Society President and Young Women's President, just to name a few. Martha loved to travel. She visited Indiana, Hawaii, the Rose Bowl Parade, Mexico, New York, Georgia and the Caribbean many times. She will be greatly missed and will only be remembered as the valiant person that she was. She was the center of our families and will be missed greatly by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. The town of Lakeside has lost an Icon. "We will miss you Mom." Funeral services will be held 11:00 A. M. Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the Lakeside Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1520 Church Lane, Lakeside with a visitation to be held 1 hour prior to services. Interment will follow in the Lakeside Cemetery.