Martha Ann Reth

Martha Ann (Burgess) Reth, 68, of St. Joseph, loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother & Sister, passed away at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph in the year of our Lord December 25, 2009 following a brief illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 4:00 P.M. Wednesday December 30, 2009 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Wayne Shearier officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service beginning at 3:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to the family. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Martha was born November 20, 1941 in Mooreville, Mississippi to Elmer & Bommer Lee (Parker) Burgess. On June 6, 1961, she married George Reth in Cadillac, Michigan. Martha was employed for more than 30 years at Holly's Landing & Pier III in St. Joseph. In her spare time, she enjoyed helping others, tending to her flower & vegetable gardens, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Martha is survived by her children Mike (Jerri Roberts) Reth of Spokane, WA, Melody (Ed Cottrell) Reth of Coloma; daughter-in-law Kelly Reth of Sterling Heights, MI; grandchildren-Jacob & Nicole Reth, Zach Reth, Naomi Reth Cottrell, Kendall, & Sally Cottrell; siblings Jimmie Hale of St. Joseph, Joe Burgess of Michigan City, IN, Larry (Cathy) Burgess of Mountain Home, AR, Gary (Vickie) Burgess of Greensboro, NC, Terry (Kathy) Burgess of Niles, MI; many nieces & nephews; and her lifetime of friends in St. Joseph. She was preceded in death by her husband George on August 6, 2007, her parents, her in-laws Richard & Mary Reth, her granddaughter Jasmine Reth, and her brother Rev. James Burgess. “I love all of you, until we meet again.”