Helen Martin, 63, of Sweet Home died Aug. 3, 2009 of ovarian cancer.
She was born Sept. 8, 1945 in Poplarville, Miss., the daughter of Hollie H. Daughdrill and Bertha Rhea Beall Daughdrill, and one of eight children.
After graduating from high school she joined a girls professional basketball team called the All-American Redheads. Her nickname was Miss Rebel.
She worked and lived in Silicon Valley, in the Bay Area of Northern California, as human resources manager. She earned a bachelor of science degree from San Francisco University in 1997. She married Dick Martin in Portola Valley, Calif. on Nov. 22, 1992.
Mrs. Martin was a member of the Peninsula Banjo Band for years, beginning in about 1974, and was the consummate wash tub bass (gut bucket) player.
In 1998 the Martins moved to Hideaway Lake, Picayune, Miss., and then, in 2002, to Sweet Home to be closer to Dick’s parents and assist in their care.
She was an integral part for years in the annual Oregon Trail Banjo Camp, hosted by her father-in-law, Ralph Martin, which drew participants from around the world. The hundreds of attendees over the years will always remember her southern fried catfish and hushpuppies. She was southern in her hospitality, her friendliness and, most definitely, her cooking.
Mrs. Martin had long dreamed of the home she wanted and, upon moving to Sweet Home, designed that home, which was then built by her husband. As she battled cancer for 2 1/2 years, her bedroom wall of windows overlooking her beloved South Santiam River made her many hours of “bed” time much easier.
Mrs. Martin is survived by her husband, Dick Martin of Sweet Home; a brother, Howard of Mississippi; and sisters Jane, Jean, Marie and Hattie, all of Mississippi.
A celebration of life will be held. For information, contact Dick Martin at 367-8139.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your favorite charity in Helen Martin’s name.