Martha Jane Anderson

Funeral services for Martha Jane Anderson, 72, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 3, 2018 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Martha Jane Anderson, devoted wife of Robert Anderson, beloved mother of Rodney Anderson and Janette Atkinson, and cherished Grammy of Luke, Alexis, Averi, and Emma Atkinson, went home to be with her dear Savior on January 29th, 2018.

Born to the late Herbert C. Montgomery and the late Eva O. Montgomery on March 9, 1945, Martha grew up in West Plains. She attended a one-room schoolhouse early in her schooling and graduated from West Plains High School in 1963. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southwest Missouri State University where she was awarded the honors of cum laude and Kappa Delta Pi. After college, Martha returned to teach elementary school in West Plains. She then married Robert L. Anderson on June 29th, 1968 in West Plains. Martha and Bob moved to Columbia, MO and later to Las Vegas, NV where Martha continued to teach school and be involved in her community. She loved to tell stories of their adventures out west and all the camping and exploring that they were able to do while they were there. They returned to Missouri where their son, Rodney, was born, and later moved to both Minnesota and Ohio. In Ohio, their daughter, Janette, was born. For 20 years, Martha lived in Asheville, NC, where she was an active part of her community. During those years, Martha was a beloved substitute teacher, a school librarian, a secretary, president of the PTA, and her favorite roles of all, a homemaker, wife, and mother. She was an active participant in her church community and served as a Sunday school teacher, song leader, pianist and leader in youth ministry. She was also delighted to serve as the sectional representative of the Missionette’s program for her church. Martha was active in her children’s school as well, often volunteering to be the room mom, serving on the PTA, and serving as a chaperone on Odyssey of the Mind trips, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Martha was a true example of being Jesus’ hands and feet to everyone that she met. A very kind and giving person, she was always ready to help others. She was known for her warm smile and was someone everyone loved to be around. She used her creative skills to create quilts for her family, and she was featured in several magazines where she wrote articles about the quilts. She also learned to build and fly stunt kites, which she would fly at one of her favorite places, the beach. Martha loved to walk the shoreline in search of shells and admire God’s creation. She loved to be outdoors and had many picnics on the parkway in the Smoky Mountains and regularly camped with her family. Martha also loved to play the piano and sing, and she played both at home and in church, and she also wrote many of her own songs and published them in a songbook. Martha and Bob retired back to West Plains, and she was blessed to be able to live the last 15 years in the place that she always called home. She loved to admire the beauty of the sunsets from her kitchen window, and she could often be found sitting on her front porch enjoying the view over the farm. She also loved playing with her grandchildren and having them visit her and visiting them. Martha loved Jesus, her family, and the Ozarks. She will forever be loved and missed by those who knew and loved her.

Martha is survived by her husband, Robert L. Anderson, two children, Rodney Anderson and wife Brooke Anderson of Joshua Tree, CA, and Janette Atkinson and husband Seth Atkinson and grandchildren Luke Atkinson, Alexis Atkinson, Averi Atkinson, and Emma Atkinson of Blountville, TN, one brother Charles Montgomery and wife Jo Beth Montgomery of West Plains, and many special nieces and nephews.

The family thanks Three Rivers Hospice for their wonderful care.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Elk Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Promised Land Church, Elk Creek Cemetery or Three Rivers Hospice and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.