February 12, 1945 - July 29, 2017
Lehman, Martha Louise - February 12, 1945- July 29, 2017 Martha Louise (Barry) Lehman was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Bernard J. and Velma M. Barry. She grew up on a farm near Olathe, Kansas. She went first to a one room country school and eventually graduated from Olathe High School in 1963. - In 1964 she married Lowell Lehman, her high school sweetheart. When Lowell enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1966, they moved to Tucson, Arizona. Upon his discharge in 1970, they came to Spokane. She was employed by Doxol Propane for two years and in 1972 started an in-home daycare, which she managed until retiring in 2010. - Martha was a devoted mother of three and surrogate mother for hundreds of children in her day care over the years. She was active in Pratt School PTA, serving a term as president and receiving the Golden Acorn and Gwen Heidenreich awards. She was also a den mother for the Cub Scouts. She was active in the Eastern Washington Family Day Care Association, serving as the south side representative for years. Martha was involved in the Worthy Work, Worthless Wages childcare forums and was co-chair of the S.A.F.E. Place committee, advocating higher standards in child care. In 1998, she and her co-chair, Mavis Hogan, were awarded the prestigious Evergreen Award in Recognition of important contributions to the quality of life in Washington communities. Martha was also a volunteer at Crosswalk, working with teen mothers. - She loved to swim, go camping, watch her hummingbirds, go to movies with friends, and most of all, be with her family. Martha is survived by her husband of 52 years, Lowell, children Brian (Julie), Darin (Nicole), and Staci Lehman; and grandchildren Tyler, Justin, Rebecca and Selena; brother Mark Barry and sister Linda Kurzweil; plus many nieces, nephews and cousins. - A funeral mass will held at St. Peters Catholic Church, 3520 E. 18th on Friday, Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. with a celebration of life luncheon to follow.
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