Nita Jane Martin

Nita Jane Keeble Martin, age 103, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior on May 17, 2018. Nita was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator and follower of Christ. She spent most of her adult life in Martin Valley in Walland. Nita played basketball at Porter High and graduated from Walland High, where she was class valedictorian. She also attended Maryville College and UT Knoxville. Nita believed strongly in the value of education. She became an elementary school teacher and spent more than 28 years teaching at Cold Springs School, Oak View Elementary, and Walland Elementary, where she lovingly influenced hundreds of children over the years. Nita was devoted to her husband of more than 64 years, Robert J. (Bob) Martin, and to her three children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She encouraged each of them to develop a love of learning and to develop their musical gifts. Nita was a faithful member of Walland United Methodist Church for nearly 80 years. She was loving and giving to all who knew her, always placing the needs of others above her own. She was skilled in gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, and fishing. She especially enjoyed growing and sharing her beautiful flowers. Nita was predeceased by her husband; her parents, Laban & Catherine Garner Keeble; sisters, Mae Gredig and Alice Whitehead; brothers, Kenneth, Anderson, Leonard, Charles, Clyde, Joe and Jim. She is survived by her sister, Ella Hale; children, Bobbie Jean (Jake) Howell and James L. (Pauline) Martin of Chattanooga and Fredric Houston (Dianne) Martin of Knoxville; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Walland United Methodist Church, 309 E. Millers Cove Road, Walland, TN 37886 or to a charity of your choice. Family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 PM on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Smith Trinity Chapel. Memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Nita Jane Martin please visit our Sympathy Store.