Mary Tomas Martinez Doty
courtesy photo
Mary Doty
ST. IGNATIUS —Prov. 20:7 “ the righteous one is walking in his integrity, happy are his children who come after him.” Our wonderful mother and grandmother passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at her home in Arlee. She was born in Hysham, Montana, on Sept. 18, 1933.
The youngest of four girls and also had four brothers, she was raised on a beet farm in eastern Montana. Hard work and long hours were the norm for the family. When she was 20 years old she met and married Bill Martinez and that union produced two children, Margarita and Robert. In 1961 the family moved from the eastern part of the state to the Mission and Missoula Valleys, where she resided until the death of her husband Bill. In the spring of 2005, she met and married Jessie Doty from Thompson Falls. She resided with Jessie until his death in Oct 2014. She resided with her daughter and son until her passing.
Mary was a remarkable woman. She was calm and quiet and had a mild demeanor. She had a quality of love that shone brightly all her life. She knew that our creator must have something more in store for mankind than the present world we see today. She felt a desire to find out what that was and started to study with Jehovah’s Witnesses at a very early age. She would accompany her older sisters to the Kingdom Hall, but her father always told her to pay attention because he wanted to make sure that they taught what the bible says. Well, in Nov. 19, 1949, she was baptized one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Because of what she now knew was true in the Bible and the hope it held out, she was a full time minister and devoted 37 years to doing the full-time work. This brought her much joy and happiness. Our mother taught us the truth and always tried to instill in us Bible principle. For that we can never thank her enough and are very proud to be her children. Mom as you sleep we will always think of you and the integrity that you had. “We look forward to that day to see you again.” John 11:25, 26.
She is preceded in death by her two sisters, Erasta Hicks and Eva Banderas, a grandson, Cameron Martinez, and two nephews, Michael Munguia and Ricardo Munguia and niece, Caroline Baker.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Margarita (Doug) Phillips; her son, Robert (Georgia) Martinez; her grandsons, Dustin (Elisa) Phillips, Billy Joel Cody Phillips; her granddaughters, Anglita Martinez (Robbie Zurring), Ashley (Joel) Finley, Haeley Martinez and six great-grandchildren. Her brothers, Frank (Kay Lee) Munguia, Tom (Maureen) Munguia, Marci Munguia, Ben (Dorthy) Munguia and one sister, Delfina Munguia. also survive her.
Memorial services for Mary will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Highway 93, St. Ignatius. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www. thelakefuneralhomeandcrematory. com.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
