Martel Ann Love, beloved wife, mother and devoted community member, passed away peacefully May 22, 2024, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 82 years old.
Born Jan. 23, 1942, in Dallas Martel was the eldest daughter of Martin and Helen Broome. She and her sister Sue Minyard (Jim) grew up in a close-knit family, fostering values of love, kindness, and service that she carried throughout her life.
On Sept. 25, 1958, Martel married Burton Love by eloping to Marietta, Okla., in of all places Love County. The two were married for an incredible 65 years, a testament to their enduring love and commitment. 
After she graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas, Martel and her husband moved to New York City. This was the first of many moves they made together during their 65-year marriage reinforcing one of the themes throughout her life – “Bloom where you’re planted.”  
Over the years, they lived as far north as Buffalo, N.Y. and Chicago, Ill.  and everywhere in between – Oklahoma City, Okla., Fairmont, W.Va. and in and around the Washington, D.C. metroplex. After retiring in 1995, they decided to return to Texas in 1996 to be close to family.
Martel and Burton raised two children, Kevin and Maryann. She cherished her role as a mother, always providing support, love, and encouragement. Martel’s nurturing nature extended to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she adored.
Martel’s career spanned 24 years with the US Department of Treasury\IRS as a Revenue Officer and finally as a Supervisory Revenue Officer.  Beyond her career, Martel was a pillar of strength and compassion within her community. 
She was an active member of Payne Springs United Methodist Church serving as Treasurer and Finance Chair for several years.  She also held positions in the United Methodist Women’s group and played in the bell choir for ten years. 
She always found a way to actively support her church, whether baking for events, ordering and installing signage, helping with the Food Pantry or gathering items for flood buckets.  She dedicated herself to helping others with the same grace and kindness she extended to her family.
Beginning in 2008, Martel teamed with her husband to facilitate “Love & Logic,” a parenting course, for local parents in Eustace, Kaufman and Athens school districts. These courses helped parents make parenting fun and rewarding, instead of stressful and chaotic and continued until 2020.   
One of Martel’s greatest passions was traveling. She and Burton explored the world together, visiting numerous countries and experiencing diverse cultures. Their travels created beautiful memories and deepened their bond, providing endless stories and experiences that Martel loved to share with family and friends.
Martel Ann Love’s legacy of love, service and dedication to family and community will forever be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. 
She leaves behind her devoted husband Burton, children Kevin and Maryann, sister Sue Minyard, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a host of extended family and friends.
Martel, like many others, suffered from Alzheimer’s and finally succumbed to the ravages of the disease. If you would like to do something to remember Martel and others who are impacted by Alzheimer’s, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association or to dementia research, in her memory.
A celebration of Martel’s life will be held at 2 p.m. June 22, 2024, at Payne Springs United Methodist Church in Payne Springs. 
Martel’s warmth, generosity, and unwavering faith will live on in the hearts of those who loved her. May she rest in eternal peace.