Lynda S. Martin, 65

After a 15 year battle with cancer, Lynda Martin departed for her reward on August 19, 2013 at the Ozarks Medical Center Hospital in West Plains, MO. She was born October 29, 1947 in Olean, New York, where she spent the first 11 years of her life.
Her family, including grandparents, moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1958. Lynda graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1962 and worked for several companies in the bookkeeping field, preceding her marriage to Donald Sessions in 1966. To this union two daughters were born, Robin and Heather.
Being a military wife, she had traveled many places, but her love for South Carolina never faded, and upon the termination of the marriage in 1975, she found herself a single working mother with two small daughters and made her home in Charleston, South Carolina. Lynda was a perfectionist and continued her education in preparation of a better life, not only for herself, but for her daughters whom she loved with a mother's passion.
In 1982 Lynda and Jerry Martin were married and she became the mother of two boys, Emmett and Terry. Lynda and Jerry made their home in Charleston with the four children until moving to Theodosia, MO in 1995. Jerry preceded her in death, May 2011. Lynda loved her South Carolina, but the hills of the Ozarks caught her eye and she settled in a place that reminded her of home. Her husband's parents retired here and life would be fine in Ozark County, Missouri.
Lynda worked part time for small businesses in the area and in 1998 she was employed by the Public Water Department of Theodosia as District Clerk and stayed there for the next 14 years. During this time her health and a divorce in 2007 became great issues in her life, but Lynda didn't let that affect her devotion to her grandsons, Dakota and Nathan. Her loyalty to her job, her animals, and her God did not waver, but only grew stronger each day, as her health failed. Lynda seemed to have a dislike for cold, icy winters in the Ozarks, therefore in 1999 she moved to Isabella, MO, where she found one of very few flat areas that was close to the main highway. Her health failing, she retired from the water company to spend time at home and with her cats.
An opening for part-time US Postal clerk, in late October 2011, became available and she was approached for the job. Much to her surprise, she missed the challenges of a job, meeting and talking with people each day. She accepted the position with the statement 'I can walk to my job – I live right across the street'. She continued to be loyal to the end, concerned that she was not able to work the week of her hospital stay.
Survivors include daughters, Robin Sessions, Myrtle Beach, S Carolina and Heather Noel Hollrah and husband Randy Hollrah , Gainesville, MO; step-sons, Emmett Martin and Terry Martin, El Cajon, CA; Grandchildren, Sarah Harliss, Myrtle Beach, S Carolina, Dakota Poland and Nathan Poland, Gainesville, MO. She was preceded in death by her mother; E Jane Welch, and her beloved sister Karen Chaney of Charlotte N Carolina.
Lynda was an avid Christian, attending her Bible Class weekly and she will be sadly missed by many close friends and acquaintances made during her time in the hills of Ozark County, her home she had grown to love.
As Lynda would often state: 'Every journey has a beginning and an end – it's what happens in between that counts.' The family will take her ashes back to the hills of South Carolina in the near future.

No local services are planned at this time. Cremation services are under the care and direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.