Martha Payne, 93, of Deer Park, Texas, passed away March 30, 2026. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 22, 1932.

Martha attended school in Glen Bernie, Maryland.  She lived an active, creative, productive and very full life.

Martha spent her life rearing, caring and loving her family and was engaged in a variety of professional and community endeavors. In addition to raising her family she had been employed by May Company Department Store and Westinghouse in Maryland where she was taught hand soldering by a naval officer and used the skill to work on war supplies and later in life on NASA space equipment, including the front panels of Apollo 13, in Florida and Texas. She earned numerous awards for her efforts. In Texas, her first job was with Schlumberger. For 13 years she served as a Republican election judge at the polls in Pasadena.

Martha loved to dance the polka, jitterbug and later Square Dancing in Texas. She was talented in various arts and crafts and loved to crochet. She was an amazing seamstress turning out beautiful costumes for the Deer Park Art Park Players and sewing for her family and the public.  Being a talented artist, she was an active member of the Decorative Artists of Texas.

Martha also served the seniors as past president of the Pasadena Chapter of the Grandmothers' Club, conducting meetings and coordinating numerous events. As a member of the Square Dance Club, she sewed beautiful attire.

Martha loved the Lord, and  as a member of Memorial Baptist Church in Pasadena. She enjoyed children, babysitting at Memorial and for the nursery at Peace Lutheran.  She took care of Tyler, an autistic child for 13 years.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Edward Carey, sister, Helen May, brother, Charles Carey, Francis John Payne, father of her children; and son, David Payne. She is survived by five of her six children, Marty, Johnny, Betty, Eddie, Mike, their families, 17 Grandchildren and 32 Great Grandchildren.

The funeral service for Martha will be at Peevey Funeral Home, Saturday, April 18, at 11:00am with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at 10:00am., Monday, April 20, at Forest Lawn Cemetery.