Martha Jean Bayless

Bayless, Martha (nee Waggoner), age 87 of Centerville passed away Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Sycamore Hospital. Martha was born on September 8, 1921 in Greenville, Ohio where she was involved in many activities including playing the coronet in the high school band and showing her horse at the Great Dark County Fair as well as being a member of the rifle club (Annie Oakley's influence?). Since she was a "farm girl" she developed a great love for animals of all kinds as well as a love of gardening and the great outdoors. Martha was a multi-talented individual with a wide variety of interests. She excelled in the classroom and in crafts/art related activities, singing, cooking, ice skating, bowling and golf. After graduation from Greenville High School in 1939, Martha attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio graduating in 1943 with a Bachelors degree in Education. While at Miami University she met the man who would eventually be the other half of her "Miami Merger." She married this man, Howard Bayless, on October 13, 1951. They were together until August 31, 2008 when he preceded her in death. They had many happy years together with many common interests including sports, fishing and hunting for rubies and sapphires in North Carolina. In the years after graduation from college and before the birth of their first and only child, Martha worked in various positions as an editor. She also taught shorthand and typing to servicemen at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. At every phase of employment, Martha made life-long friendships. She was a very friendly, outgoing person who never met a stranger and never hesitated to help others in need. Martha was a loving, kind and generous daughter, wife and mother as well as a friend who will be missed by all. In the past year Martha was a resident of Sycamore Glen Retirement Community where she was involved in crafts, bingo and bringing a ray of sunshine into the lives of other residents as well as employees. She had a fighting spirit which carried her through some difficult health issues in recent years. In addition to her husband, Martha was preceded in death by her mother, Caroline Swallow Waggoner, her father, H. Clark Waggoner, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara and her fianc, Ron and his family as well as many grand-animals. She is also survived by cousins and by numerous friends from the Homemaker's Club and her many other activities. If desired, contributions may be made to SICSA or one's favorite charity. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the Routsong Funeral Home, 81 N. Main St., Centerville, OH with Rev. Ral Concha officiating. Burial will be in Centerville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26 at the funeral home. Condolences and other remembrances may be sent to www.routsong.com.