Mary Jean Martin

Mary Jean Martin, 86, a longtime resident of Parsons, Kansas, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018 in Parsons. She had been in failing health the past few weeks.

Mary was born on May 14, 1931 in Columbus, Kansas to Louie and Josie (Carpino) Saporito. She attended Columbus schools and graduated from Columbus High School.

Mary Jean was united in marriage to Joseph D. "Joe" Martin on August 27, 1955 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Scammon, Kansas. She was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young. Mary later worked for the Parsons Recreation Center and enjoyed working as a para-educator at Longfellow Elementary in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Following retirement, she and Joe returned to Parsons where they had lived since. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parsons and its Altar Society, and she and Joe had volunteered at St. Vincent DePaul Society. She enjoyed spending time with her family, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She rarely missed any activity that they were involved in throughout their lives. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Martin, on November 2, 2013.

Survivors include four sons - Joe L. Martin and wife, Kathy, of Frontenac, KS; David Martin and wife, Robie, of Parsons, KS; Mark Martin and wife, Sherri, of Parsons, KS; and Mike Martin and wife, Donna, of Girard, KS; Eleven grandchildren - Elizabeth, Emily, Kyle, John David, Seth, Maegen, Mikinzi, Kelsey, Drew, Luke, and Anne Marie; Twelve great-grandchildren – Abby, Rylie, Jackson, Johnny, Taryn, Reed, Owen, Josie, Charleigh, Claire, Croy, Ada, and one more great-grandchild on the way; Two brothers – Richard Saporito and wife, Susan, of Overland Park and Tom Saporito and wife, Diane, of Columbus; Two sisters-in-law - Mary Ruth Saporito of Weir, KS and Carol Saporito of Columbus, KS; a brother-in-law - Carl E. Martin and wife, Mary Ann, of West Mineral, KS; and a sister-in-law – Helen Marie Wallace and husband, Larry, of Clay Center, KS.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Frank Saporito and John Saporito.

The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 2, 2018 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in St. Bridget's Cemetery in Scammon, Kansas. The parish rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons where the family will receive friends at 7:00 p.m., following the rosary.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Educational Foundation for the Joe and Mary Jean Martin Scholarship Fund or St. Patrick's Catholic Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.0. Box 374, Parsons, Kansas, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.