Martha Blackwell

Martha Ann Blackwell of Bluff Dale passed away surrounded by her loved ones at a Fort Worth hospital on Nov. 19, 2022, at the age of 81.

Services were Wednesday, Nov. 23, at Riley Funeral Home with burial in Oakwood Cemetery.

Martha was born Aug. 6, 1941, to Mignon and Cecil Floyd Whitehead in Dublin. She attended high school in Fairy and married the love of her life, Leonard Blackwell, on Dec. 14, 1960. They spent 40 years happily married until his untimely death. Their love produced three wonderful children, Leonard Dale, Mark and Belinda, and for anyone who knew her, they knew that she considered these her three finest accomplishments in life.

Martha spent her life helping others and worked at the Hamilton School cafeteria for many years. She was a generous, kind and loving woman who loved people and was always looking for ways that she could help someone else. She suffered many hardships during her life, but never let that change the beautiful person she was.

Martha had many interests which included painting, sewing, cooking and sharing time with her family. One of her biggest joys was spending time with her grandchildren and ensuring her love for them was known. She was just happy to be with them, whether it be sharing her love of the Lord, throwing a football or most recently pretend hunting and shooting a bow and arrow from her wheelchair with her grandson.

No matter what Martha

faced in life, she did it with grace and understanding and never lost sight of her faith. She was a strong woman and left behind a beautiful legacy for her family.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband Leonard, her son Leonard Dale Blackwell, and her son-inlaw, Cody Keith.

Survivors include her son Mark and his wife Lisa; her daughter Belinda; grandchildren Lacey and John Couch, Justin and Alisa Blackwell, Brandon and Asiyel Blackwell, Elizabeth and Dustin Pike, Ashley and Joshua Castillo, Michael Blackwell, Kennady Keith and Levi Keith; great-grandchildren Jayce Couch, Mia Blackwell and Dale, Catherine and Earl Pike; two brothers; two sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take. A mother’s love endures through all.”

RILEY FUNERAL HOME