Nancy Lee Martin

Nancy Lee (Hunter) Martin, age 83, passed away in her sleep and walked into the glory of Heaven on July 15, 2022. She was a new Memory Care resident in Claremore, Oklahoma, having relocated from Broken Arrow where she had lived near family since 2009, and prior to then, in the Los Angeles area for most of her adult life.



Nancy was born on October 15, 1938, in Oakland, CA, the second of three daughters of Vera May (Marx) Hunter and Albert Rowland Hunter, Jr. Her unpredictable childhood was spent in the East Bay Area (Oakland, Piedmont, and Berkeley), where she had a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from her window, the adoration of numerous pets, the love of family, the gift of churchgoing, and a deep survival instinct that assisted her past adolescence. Her experiences planted the seeds of empathy, love, peacemaking, and an overcoming spirit in her heart; those seeds grew into an inextinguishable passion for helping others. In 1958 while attending UCLA, she met and then married David F. Martin in 1960. Their extraordinary union and mutual adoration brought them through the subsequent years of dental assisting employment, David’s PhD Professor program at UCLA, his post-doctoral fellowship at MIT in Boston, and soon after, the joyous arrivals of a son and daughter. Together, they celebrated 36 years of selfless devotion to each other until David’s passing from cancer in 1996.



She had no greater joy on this earth than to nurture a healthy family, and to be a tireless helper and mentor to many. Her sociable and fun-loving nature, laughter, and gift for hospitality spilled out of her without depletion. The transformation of her life and healing of her soul began in her late teens when her faith in Jesus was established; her passion to learn, teach, pray, and equip others to lead propelled her to earning her MDiv at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa (1998), Foursquare Church ordination and licensure, a teaching position at The King’s College & Seminary in Van Nuys, as well as leading home Bible Studies, Workshops, and Prayer Groups; she was instrumental in authorship of several books, serving in the community, and speaking and assisting in an incalculable number of Women’s Ministry events. She worked with great passion in missionary work for 35 years, having served on and/or led over 60 trips/projects in New Zealand, South Africa, Belize, Haiti, Mexico, Morocco, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Uganda, and Kenya, often for months at a time. Orphan care, establishing water wells, improving health, advocating for social justice, and training local leaders were her lifelong goals. Doing the active work of God’s love was all she ever wanted, and seeing others fulfill their God-given potential perpetually fueled the unquenchable fire of her redeemed heart. She was an exceptional wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandma, friend, teacher, worker, seamstress, quilter, crafter, confidant, hostess, mentor, advocate, encourager, and Christ follower. Her loss leaves an enormous hole in the hearts of those who both loved her and were touched by her giftedness. A clarion call to continue her legacy of love is what she leaves behind.



She is preceded in death by her husband Dr. David F. Martin and one granddaughter Katie Starkweather. She is survived by sisters Anne Hamilton, Calistoga, CA and Jacquie Cordova, Westwood, CA; son Christopher D. Martin (wife Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi), Singapore; grandsons Oliver Finn Martin and Christopher D. (Cory) Martin Jr, Singapore; daughter Laurel A. (Martin) Starkweather (husband Jeffrey Starkweather), Owasso, OK; three granddaughters, Megan J. (Starkweather) Schmidt (husband Capt. William “Billy” Schmidt), College Station, TX; Melissa J. Starkweather, Asheville, NC; Madison J. Starkweather, Sámara, Costa Rica; grandson USN IS3 Maxwell J. Starkweather, Washington, D.C.; four great-grandchildren; numerous other relatives; and dozens of treasured friends who became her family.



Nancy’s Tulsa Celebration of Life will be held at Schaudt Funeral Service, 5757 S. Memorial Dr., Tulsa on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 11 am. Come early to visit. A YouTube simulcast and recording will be available. www.schaudtfuneralservice.com

Nancy’s Los Angeles area Celebration of Life, and Interment at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, are planned for the third week of October 2022.

In lieu of flowers, please make a lasting impact with a contribution of clean water through www.lifewater.org