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OBITUARY
Martha Etta
Gandy
SEPTEMBER 1, 1928 – FEBRUARY 17, 2023
IN THE CARE OF
Cashner
Funeral Home & Garden Park Cemetery
Funeral
services for Martha Etta Adams Gandy, age 94, of Conroe will be held on Tuesday
February 21st, 2023 at 2:00 PM in Cashner Colonial Chapel with Jeff Berger
officiating. Visitation is scheduled for Monday February 20, 2023 from 5:30 pm
to 7:30pm at Cashner Funeral Home.
Mrs. Gandy
was born September 1st, 1928 in Anderson County (Palestine) Texas. She passed
away on Friday February 17th, 2023 in Paris, Texas where both of her children
currently live. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Harley Gandy
and her parents Thomas Jefferson Adams and LuDelle Adams.
Martha
leaves behind her daughter Susan Gandy Davis and her husband Jim of Paris,
Texas; her son William (Bill) Gandy and wife Lisa of Paris, Texas. Three
grandchildren Laura Davis Barbier and her husband Michael of Katy, Texas; Bryan
Davis and wife Kelsey of Pearland, Texas and Sarah Gandy Clark and husband
Steven of Conway, Arkansas. Four Great-grandchildren Kyle Barbier and Charlotte
Barbier of Katy, Texas and Walker Davis and Barrett Davis of Pearland, Texas.
Martha was
raised initially in Anderson County, Texas where her paternal grandparents
lived. She attended kindergarten and first grade at Montalba school. In the mid
1930’s, Martha’s family moved to Conroe Texas and she attended Conroe Public
schools, graduating from Conroe High School in 1945.
At the age
of 11, Martha accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was a life-long member of
First Baptist Church Conroe. She based her life choices on her Christian faith
and biblical guides. For several years she shared her beliefs in the children’s
Sunday school program at First Baptist Church.
In 1945,
Martha began her college career at the University of Texas in Austin Texas.
While at UT Martha tutored future actor Fess Parker of “Davy Crockett” fame. “Hook’em”!
She graduated from UT with a bachelor’s of Arts in Education and began her
professional career as an educator, teaching her first two years at Klein School
in Klein, Texas.
Her third
year Martha moved to Conroe Public Schools and began teaching at Travis Junior
High. In 1952, while at Travis, she met fellow teacher, Harley Gandy, who would
become her future husband. Martha taught many subjects while at Travis including
spelling and writing, but the majority of her career was spent teaching 8th
grade American History.
Martha and
Harley married on June 6th, 1953 in Conroe. Their love lasted almost 58 years
until Harley’s death in January 2011. Their life together included raising two
children, traveling across America with friends and family and then sharing
their adventures with their students in Conroe for almost 40 years.
Martha was
a true Southern lady full of southern charm. Quiet, soft spoken, but could come
out with some “zingers” that would catch her family off guard and send them into
fits of laughter. She was an encourager, always seeing the best in people and
situations. Her famous words of wisdom to all who would listen “Be diplomatic!
Always be diplomatic!”
History and
love of country and community were very important to Martha. She was a charter
member of the Margaret Montgomery Chapter of the NSDAR. She was also a
founding/charter member of the Judge Nathaniel Hart Davis Chapter of the
Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She served as Regent/President in both of
these groups and was always an active participant in their community historical
projects.
Martha
assisted her husband with research on family ancestry or research on local
historical projects. She was instrumental in the preparation and opening of
several museums in Conroe and Montgomery. She helped obtain the historical
marker at the New Bethlehem Cemetery in Cut and Shoot, Texas and the historical
Marker at her maternal grandparents home, the Addison-Gandy home in Montgomery,
Texas.
Pallbearers
of the service will be Bryan Davis, Grandson, Michael Barbier, Grandson-in-law,
Steven Clark, grandson-in-law, Eddie Monroe, Spencer Monroe, Kelly Barber.
Honorary Pallbearers are Herman Monroe, Duke Proctor, and Robert Rabuck.
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