Martha Janet "Marty" Brown (Stanke)

Marty Brown, 73, of Buckner, MO suddenly returned to our Heavenly Father on October 30, 2015. Graveside services will be 11am, November 6, 2015 at Buckner Hill Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be 2pm, Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Buckner Restoration Branch. Marty was born with the heart of a servant on April 13, 1942 in Charlotte, MI to Albert and Eunice (Plumb) Stanke. From birth, Marty had a strong and devout faith. She was blessed on November 15, 1942 and was later baptized on June 10, 1951. She was active in her youth church groups and attended many church reunions. Marty attended and graduated from Hasslett High School in Hasslett, MI in 1960. Her love and devotion for the church was paired with an unwavering dedication and love of family. As the youngest of seven children, she loved nothing more than to be with family and had the opportunity to quickly become everyone’s “Aunt Mart” from an early age. She began to perfect her amazing cooking and baking skills, which she would later be known for, by assisting her mother in the kitchen and with catering events at Walnut Hills Golf Club. She attended Graceland College in Lamoni, IA for two years. After returning to Michigan, she met a man named EJ from Buckner, MO, whom she attempted to fix up with her girlfriends. A true love story began that could not be separated by miles or distance. EJ & Marty were married on June 13, 1970. Up until the birth of her first child, Marty worked as an executive assistant to the head of J.F. Pritchard & Co. on the Plaza in Kansas City, MO. Being a dedicated and devoted mother to her three children, Beth, Courtney and Chad, became her full time job. Even with three busy and active children, Marty never let the opportunity to help someone else pass, no matter what she had to do. She was very active in the community as a Sunday school teacher, women’s leader, den mother, Skylark’s leader, and served on the board of Buckner Town Hall 2001 and Community Services League. Marty’s love and commitment to her children also kept her busy and active in the Fort Osage Band Boosters and she was an avid sports mom and fan traveling all over to watch her son play soccer or her daughter cheer for a team. Her love of sports and family also had her traveling to many sporting events and places to create memories and support others. Marty, along with her husband, owned and operated E&J Specialty Contractor for over 25 years. Marty felt at home when she was surrounded by her family or was acting in service to others. Marty enjoyed leading family songs and skits around the campfires at reunion. There was nothing that Marty could not do or would not do for someone else. She shared every last piece of her heart and soul with everyone she met. Even a chance encounter with someone would often leave a life altering impact on that person. Marty became a mother to many due to her selflessness and Christ like love that permeated from her every pore. Her grandchildren were the light of her life and center of her universe. Marty was the core of not only her own family, but her church family and countless others. She will be missed immensely until we meet again at the gates of paradise. Survivors include; husband E.J. Brown; daughters Beth Brown-Guiot (Joe), Courtney Farrell (Jason), son Chad Brown (Amanda); and Amy Portz (Kenny); grandchildren Reagan Guiot, Timothy Farrell, Maggie Farrell, Clare Brown, Jack Brown, and Mason Brown; sisters Joy Lott and Carolyn Kibbey; brothers Douglas Stanke and Robert Stanke; numerous nieces, nephews, and a very large extended family. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Marjorie Nemeth, and brother Alvin Stanke. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Marty’s name may be made to Buckner Restoration Branch to be used in the kitchen where she devoted so much time of service. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com. Services in care of Speaks Suburban Chapel in Independence, Missouri.