Obituary: Dorthea Martz, 88, Ludington.

Dorthea Martz

Obituary: Dorthea Martz, 88, Ludington. 

#MasonCountyDeaths.

Dorthea May Martz, 88, of Ludington, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington. Dorthea was born on April 8, 1928, the only child of Clayton A. and Ellen (Allen) Marrison, growing up in the Crystal Valley area before their family moved to a farm in Riverton Township.  Dorthea attended Eden School before graduating from Scottville High School, and furthered her education at Michigan State University.  On November 12, 1949 she married James W. Martz at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Riverton and they celebrated 52 years together before James preceded her in death in 2001.  Dorthea was also preceded in death by her parents.

Dorthea worked for many years as a teacher’s aide at Riverton Elementary and Scottville Elementary schools, but cherished her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother the most.  At the schools, she treated every child as they were her own.  She volunteered her time for many years with the 4-H clubs in Riverton and served as superintendent of the Western Michigan Fair Association.  Dorthea enjoyed watching the birds that frequented her yard, especially when she was working in her garden.  She also enjoyed working on crafts, which included floral arrangements and knitting.  She always looked forward to time spent knitting with the Riverton Knit-Wits and with the ladies at Scottville United Methodist Church as part of the United Methodist Women.  Her greatest joy came in the company of her beloved family.

Dorthea will be greatly missed by her sons: Larry Martz and his wife Cathy of Marshall, Clay Martz and his wife Lee of Woodland: her granddaughters: Sarah Lawrence and husband Chad of Plainwell, Kristine Angers and husband Michael of Wyoming, Mich., Stephanie Erickson and husband Kyle of Lake Odessa, and Katelyn Saglimbene and husband Timothy of Lansing; her great-grandchildren: Norah and Elijah Lawrence, Layla and Grady Erickson; her sisters-in-law: Milda Martz, Jay Martz, and Julia Morell, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held for Dorthea at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30 at the Scottville United Methodist Church with her pastor, The Rev. Jack Conklin officiating.  Burial will take place at Center Riverton Cemetery.  Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church.  Those who wish to remember Dorthea with a memorial donation are asked to consider either the Scottville United Methodist Church for their Memorial Garden, or the Mason County Historical Society for the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum.

Please visit Dorthea’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Dorthea for her family, or to light a candle in her memory.