Memorial services for 84-year old Martha Woodhouse are Thursday April 21st, 2022, at 10:30 at the Gordon City Auditorium in Gordon, NE.
The services will be followed by a luncheon.
Private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
A memorial has been established and donations may be sent to Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, P.O. Box 366, Gordon, NE 69343
Online condolences may be left at chamberlainchapel.com.
Martha Louise Woodhouse was born July 24th, 1937, in Gordon, to Frank Norton Grooms and Gona Abilene (Hanson) Grooms and passed away April 14th 2022 at Gordon Countryside Care.
Martha was the youngest of 11 children. She had polio in 1940 and lived with disabilities her whole life.
Martha grew up at Wounded Knee, SD. After graduating from Rushville High School in May 1956, she attended Chadron State College for 1 year.
Martha met Leo Woodhouse and they married June 15th, 1957. They had 2 Children; Thomas John and Susan Marie.
Martha and Leo lived on the farm by the Niobrara River together until Leo’s passing Apri l3rd, 2010. Martha continued living on the farm until she moved to Countryside Care in October 2021.
Despite the disabilities caused by polio, Martha never faltered and never quit trying. No matter the challenge she met it head on.
Martha was director of Dawn, Inc, and traveled to national and state conferences on domestic violence. She served on NCAP boards for many years and was a foster grandparent for Head Start.
Martha was an avid gardener and ran a greenhouse in Gordon for many years. She canned pickled beets, cinnamon ring pickles, and whatever else she raised. For a time, she made pies for the Rushville sale barn and for special orders.
Martha was an extremely talented seamstress, having made 17 wedding gowns and at least 3 hand embroidered christening gowns. She did custom sewing and mending.
Martha was a founding member of Willow Tree Quilt Guild and made many wonderful quilts. She collected old singer sewing machines and orange slag glass.
Martha was active with FFA and 4-H as her children grew up. She judged 4-H entries at the Sheridan County Fair. Martha loved to travel and went on 6 cruises, the longest being 16 days through the Panama Canal.
Martha was an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her daughter Susan and her husband Ed McDonald, grandson Christopher McDonald and great-grandsons Aydon and Hunter, grandson Jacob McDonald, wife Brittany and great-grandson Jaxon McDonald. Niece Elaine Kleinsasser, niece Tess Hinn and Zach Kraenow, niece Anna Harris and her husband Charles, nephew Chuck Grooms and wife Deb, niece Sharon Barr, nephew Bill Grooms, nephew Richard Grooms and his wife Marianna, nephew Mike Grooms and his wife Nancy, niece Patsy Brush and husband Rapp, niece Cathy Grooms, nieces Sandy Graff and Crystal Grooms, nephews Chuck Grooms and John Grooms and wife Leah, and niece Pat Guenther.
Martha is also survived by special friends Jean Parker, Don & Lila Hutchison, Mike & Sandy Combs, Gail Glassgow, Wayne Louden, Nicki Stuck, Charley & Judy Rupp as well as many greatnieces and nephews and great-great nephews and nieces.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Frank & Gona Grooms, husband Leo Woodhouse, son Thomas Woodhouse, her siblings, Frank Hans Grooms, Mary Jane Gabriel, Joseph Grooms, Victor Melvin Grooms, Gertrude Elaine Coomes, Aaron William Grooms, Samuel George Grooms, Henry Randall Grooms, Patrick Daniel Grooms and Davis Garner Grooms. Niece Linda Davis, nephew Danny Grooms, niece Jessi Grooms, niece Patty Grooms, niece Veronica Grooms, nephews Junior Grooms & Stevie Grooms, and nephews Ed and Clarence Avis. Brothers-in-law Charley, Kenneth, Harold, Donald, Levison and Lee Woodhouse.
Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home of Gordon is in charge of arrangements for Martha Woodhouse.