Martha Louise Granstaff Middleton

WEATHERFORD -- Martha Louise Granstaff Middleton, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the age of 87. Celebration of Life: 1:00 pm Thursday at First Baptist Church Weatherford, 221 Church Street, Weatherford, 76086. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Whites Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford, 76086. A private family graveside service will be held earlier in the day on Thursday. Martha was born October 21, 1927 in Weatherford to J.E. and Viona Granstaff and added to the Cradle Roll on that day at First Baptist Church of Weatherford. Martha grew up in a home that served the public and the Lord. Both of her parents were teachers and active at FBC Weatherford and she followed in their footsteps. A servant's heart was instilled in her at a young age by her dear parents who taught her the importance of giving back and serving our Lord wherever she resided. As a piano and organ major in college, she became a public school music teacher and taught in Whiteface, Texas City, Granger, Bartlett, and in Weatherford at James Bowie Elementary. She then became an Elementary Counselor for Weatherford ISD, ending her long career in education at Curtis School. She started music lessons with Miss Nona Akard and began playing the organ at First Baptist Weatherford at the age of 10, continuing until she left Weatherford for Baylor University. She sat again on that bench beginning in 1972, playing the church organ for all services until her retirement in 2002. Martha was also active in Women's Groups and volunteer organizations. In 1970-1971 she was selected Capitol District's Club Woman of the Year from Central Texas. She was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma, holding a variety of positions including President of the local chapter in Weatherford and later served in the Parker County chapter of Retired Teachers. She was a long-time volunteer with Campbell Hospital, giving her time as the buyer for the gift shop. She also volunteered at the desk of the Doss Heritage Center. She continued her servant's heart by playing the piano for the skilled nursing and assisted living centers and working in the store of Good Samaritan Lake Forest Village in Denton where she had relocated in recent years. She had a love of traveling, whether it be local or internationally. A self-proclaimed Anglophile, she had a great love of British culture. Always one to continue learning, she traveled to educate herself on other cultures of the world, having also traveled to Asia, parts of Europe, and Canada. Martha had a great love of all things related to the home. Her pink house on Spring Street was an iconic home for many years. She had a vast array of antiques and had a great love of her dishes. Though her home was filled with numerous treasures, nothing was more magical than hearing her grandchildren run and play upstairs for many hours at a time. She enjoyed hosting family and preparing large meals to serve. She was an excellent cook who proclaimed many a time, “I love all parts of the pig!” Her sense of humor was boundless and her zest for life enormous. Though she was an active community member and great educator, her greatest contribution to the world is her children. As a single-mother the church was an important resource to her in raising her children. Each of her four children finished college with a degree and are successful contributing members of society. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, J.E. and Viona Granstaff as well as loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survivors: She is survived by daughters, Anne Middleton, Beth (Rick) Holland, and Merri (Scott) Roy; son, Mark (Lisa) Middleton; grandchildren, Laura (Dustin) Riley, Elizabeth (Brandon) Lum, Thomas Kober, and Sarah, Matthew, and Joshua Middleton; and great-granddaughter, Kaley Lum. She is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the heart. White's Funeral Home Weatherford, 817-596-4811