Martha Bearden

Martha Bearden, 71, of Houston, formerly of Pampa, died peacefully in Houston on January 25, 2019. 

A memorial service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa with John Curry officiating.  Cremation and arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.

Martha was a native of Pampa, Texas and was the daughter of the late Jeff and Burton Bearden, also of Pampa.  She was a Christmas baby, a Baby Boomer born on December 25, 1947. As a child, she liked to spend most Christmas Days asking where her other gifts were and reminding everyone that she was the significant person born on that day.

Martha graduated from Pampa High School in 1966 and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she received an associate of arts degree. She continued her studies at the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated with a B.A. in history from The University of Texas at Austin. She subsequently received a master’s degree in library science from The University of Texas at Austin.

Martha landed a plum job as she began her career as the children’s librarian for the City of Palo Alto in California. She was loved by both parents and children, who eagerly awaited her delightfully animated children’s stories. Palo Alto was a great place to work and an exciting place to live. Martha subsequently worked for the City of Bellaire, Texas as the children’s librarian. Again, her story hours were fascinating for the children, who learned to enjoy reading with Martha.

Driven by a love for books and a love of reading, Martha also sold children’s books and World Book during her professional career. Additionally, she worked as a research assistant for physicians and medical scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, broadening the scope of her library skills. 

Martha’s greatest passion was her love of cooking. She had more than a thousand cookbooks and seldom missed her favorite shows on the various cooking networks. She loved to cook for family, friends, and colleagues. Not modest about her skills in the kitchen, Martha often referred to herself as the Culinary Diva.

Martha left this life surrounded by many loving and generous friends. She could be demanding some of the time, if not most of the time, but her amazing friends always stood by her, especially as her health declined and she required more attention. One of Martha’s friends quipped that she could see Martha in heaven surrounded by angels waiting on her hand and foot. Martha had quite a way with words. Combined with her sense of humor, her quick responses and biting wit entertained those who loved her.

Martha was indeed one of a kind.  Her sister, Mary, would like to extend tremendous thanks and appreciation to all of Martha’s friends—angels in this life—especially her dear friend, John Curry, her Pampa High School friends who assisted her for many years, and the incredibly loyal Houston Girls.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Bearden and Sterling Adams, of Amarillo, as well as cousins in Texas, New Mexico, and Great Britain. She was preceded in death by her parents.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lovett Memorial Library, 111 N. Houston, Pampa, TX 79065.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM Thursday January 31, 2019, until service time at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.