Martha Ann Nelson

Martha Ann Nelson, 95, of St. Joseph, passed away, Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Fr. Ben Huynh officiating.  Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, St. Joseph.  Friends may visit with the family from noon until 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorials in Martha’s name may be made to Hanson Hospice Center.  Those wishing to sign Martha’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Martha was born December 21, 1922 in Oxford, Ohio to John & Frances (Page) McDonough.  She graduated from McGuffy High School in Oxford, Class of 1941, and from Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1946.  On September 17, 1947, she married Morris Nelson in Oxford.  Martha devoted her life to caring for her family, first in Columbus and then here in St. Joseph.  However, Martha was given the title “Forever a Buckeye” by the Ohio State University.  She was a member of the OSU Alumni Association, St. John/St. Bernard Parish, and formerly a member of the Down to Earth Garden Club.  She was an excellent bridge player and won several awards for her famous apple pies.  She cherished the time spent with her family. Martha is survived by her children-Lois Nelson of Shorewood, IL, Janet Havery of Sarasota, FL, Kevin Nelson of St. Joseph, Alisa Stanford of Montgomery, AL, Teresa Nelson of Farmington, MI; six grandchildren-James (Amber) Nelson, Shawn Havery, Matthew (Elizabeth) Nelson, Jaelithe (John) Eeten, Kevin Barr, Ryan (Melanie) Stanford; five great-grandcildren-Haley & Madison Barr, Charlie & Amelia Nelson, Ashlynn Nelson; her brother Thomas (Annamary) McDonough of Ashland, OH, her sister-in-law Agnes McDonough of Hamilton, OH; and numerous nieces & nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Morris on February 22, 2005, her son Thomas Nelson on August 21, 2006, son-in-law Bryan Havery on May 4, 1994, grandson Jaime “Woody” Barr on December 11, 2010, great-granddaughter Payton Lynn Eeten on October 21, 2007, and siblings-Alice Stephenson, Frances Bever, John Jr., Paul Patrick, Edwin, Edgar, K. Mark & James Basil McDonough.