MARTHA MONGER

Martha Rebecca Herndon Monger, a beloved and remarkable mother, grandmother, sister and friend, completed her ninety-one-year-long journey on July 2nd, 2015.

Born in Tulsa in a modest little house near Pine & Lewis on January 4th, 1924 to Felix and Roxie Herndon, Martha, the youngest of four children, grew up in humble circumstances. In 1933, she lost her father, an oil field equipment trucker, to cancer. Nine-year-old Martha took over the meal preparations and other homemaking responsibilities when her mother and brothers went to work to support the family, often covering the holes in the soles of her shoes with cut-out cardboard to ease her walk to Riley Elementary School. Despite Depression Era hardships, she treasured many happy memories of good times with family and friends on the Sand Springs line, including a good-looking young musician named Wendell Monger.

Vivacious, feisty and fun, Martha attended Roosevelt Junior High, worked her way through high school at Crown Drug and the downtown Kress' Store, and enjoyed participation in the Christian Endeavour youth activities at the old Central Christian Church, where, on November 21st at 10:00 P.M. in a packed sanctuary, Martha, a recent graduate of Central High School, married Wendell, who was on leave from the U.S. Navy. Throughout his tour of duty, whenever Wendell was stateside, she traveled to the different cities where he was stationed. At the end of his tour of duty, Martha and Wendell settled down in Tulsa, where Martha, an extremely capable office worker, was sent to Business College by her employer, Machine Tool and Supply, while Wendell attended the University of Tulsa and entered the grocery and restaurant supply business, establishing Monger Fixture Company with his father, J.M. Monger.

In 1949, Martha and Wendell welcomed baby daughter, Susie, and exactly four years later to the day, little sister, Phoebe Jane was born. Martha jumped into motherhood with characteristic energy and dedication. She was at the same time organized and spontaneous, firm and funny. She was Jefferson Elementary PTA president, chauffeur to music, dance and dramatics lessons, the "grout lady" for Vacation Bible School craft projects, church youth group sponsor, and the friendly, comfortable hostess to all the girls' friends, Wendell's Gospel quartet rehearsals, and numerous family celebrations. She gave her daughters confidence and an idyllic childhood.

During this very busy child rearing period, Martha began working part-time for Southwestern Bell Telephone and eventually went to work at the Education Service Center of Tulsa Public Schools, where she worked for twenty-five years, retiring from the Accounting Department in 1985 in order to enjoy occasional travels with Wendell and, most of all, to spend more time with new granddaughter, P.J. Daugherty, and a few years later, her little brother Teddy. Martha and Wendell, who became grandparents in their 60s, were adoring babysitters, giving the children a warm and welcoming second home just two blocks away.

During her long career at TPS, Martha made it her mission to encourage employees to enter into the Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System, so that despite earning relatively modest salaries, they would be able to be secure financially in their old age. Many later expressed great appreciation for Martha's valuable guidance.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother F. G. Herndon, sister Virginia Ballard, and Wendell Monger, Martha's husband of 58 years. She is survived by her two daughters, Susie Monger Daugherty and Phoebe Monger who served as Martha's dedicated full-time caretaker for the past six years; son-in-law Rex Daugherty and former son-in-law Tom Bingham; granddaughter P.J. Daugherty; grandson Ted Daugherty; grandson Moses Daugherty; brother J. B. Herndon; sister-in-law and best friend Dorothy Herndon; nephews James Herndon, John Duncan and Jim Herndon; nieces Barbara Kersh, Donna Lewellen, Becky Morgan, Alice McCommas and Judy Tidmore.

Martha enjoyed many close friendships throughout her lifetime, and after Wendell passed away in 2001, she found consolation in the good times with her girlfriends, especially her old and dear friend, Gertrude Bratcher. Up into her 80's Martha was amazingly active – driving the girl friends to Branson, fetching forgotten music for her daughter, helping to decorate another daughter's classroom, chauffeuring friends to the doctor, picking up grandchildren from school – ever the strong, loving matriarch, always working hard and giving of herself to make life better for her family. Our dear little "Mammy Martha" is sorely missed.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, July 8th at 10:00 A.M. in Memorial Park Cemetery followed by a reception at Memorial Park's Family Center.
The family is extremely grateful to the Grace Hospice caregivers for their kindness and care shown to Martha and her daughters.
Memorial donations may be made to Spay First at < http://www.spayfirst.org/ > and Grace Hospice at < http://gracehospicefoundation.org/ >


Moore's Rosewood Chapel
918-744-1202