Linda Sue (Harms) Martin

Linda Sue (Harms) Martin was born May 1, 1954, in Clinton, Okla., to Ogen J. and Pauline (Schmidt) Harms.

Linda accepted Christ and was baptized at the age of 11 at the Corn Mennonite Brethren Church on Oct. 24, 1965.

She attended grade school and junior high in the Corn Public School system. For high school she attended Corn Bible Academy and graduated with an Academic Diploma as well as a Bible Diploma. She went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Okla., where she received a "Secretarial Science Certificate."

Linda taught Sunday school, AWANA and VBS for 40 plus years of her life She also enjoyed preparing and playing piano music in church services. She took this quite seriously as she felt the music was preparing people's hearts to hear what God would say through the pastor.

Linda married Bill Uplinger in 1975. To this marriage were born two daughters, Heather and Amber. In 1989 Bill chose a different path for his life, leaving Linda and her two daughters to make it on their own. Many lessons were learned during this time by Linda and her girls -- lessons that prepared them for the remainder of their lives.

Edna, a dear friend of Linda's began to pray that God would bring someone to help her with the girls and on Aug. 8, 1992, "Tony" Anthony L. Synder-Martin became Linda's husband and the answer to Edna's prayers. In 1997 Amber asked if Tony would adopt her and it was made official.

In 2000 a big change took place in Linda's life -- after living in Western, Okla., for 46 years, she and her husband, Tony, moved to Nevada, Mo., where they made their home and Tony started a new job with 3M. When her friends said "This must be hard on you to move" Linda responded, "we will find a church and I will make friends and I will be OK.

Tony and Linda made two memorable motorcycle trips after moving to Missouri: one West of the Rocky Mountains and one East to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

During Linda's life in Oklahoma she worked for: Richardson Construction, Co., Fashion 2-20, Custer County Election Board, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University. After moving to Missouri she worked for Nevada Auto Mall and Suzan Gaster Accounting.

In October 2007 Linda was diagnosed with Breast Cancer -- she left her job and started the battle for her life, some days more valiantly than others. Tony and the girls were faithfully by her side as well as many friends. Due to the prayers of her church and people all over the U.S. and Canada, Linda received an "all clear" on Aug. 25, 2008. Nearly five years passed until on March 5, 2012, the cancer returned and spread. Linda went about it differently this time; she gave it to the Lord and left it there. Linda chose natural therapies this time -- with no side effects. She always said "I win either way -- I win to live longer on earth or win to be in Heaven."

Linda loved her grandchildren and spent as much time as she could with them; swinging on the front porch, going for a walk, making their special cookie recipe, teaching them some craft; always trying to find their gifts and talents and bring them out. Using all of these opportunities to prepare them for life -- teaching them that God is always there for them.

Linda always said the ONLY GOD knows when it is my time -- and His plan is perfect. So why could I wish anything better than perfect? God's time came on Sept. 14, 2014, at the age of 60 years, four months, and 13 days. The perfect cure forever.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Ogen J. and Pauline (Schmidt) Harms.

She is survived by her husband; "Tony" Anthony L. Snyder-Martin of the home; two daughters, Heather R. (Uplinger) Harrington of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Amber C. (Martin) Coble and husband Jim W. Coble of Joplin, Mo.; four grandchildren, Felicity A. Harrington of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Austin J. Hayden, Taylor C. Lewis, and Olivia "OJ" Coble, all of Joplin; one sister, Margaret A. (Harms) Adams and husband James Adams of Clinton, Okla.; four nephews; and numerous other family members and friends.

Funeral services for Linda Sue Martin are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Ferry Funeral Home Nevada. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, also at the funeral home. Interment will be held in the Akins Cemetery in Akins, Okla.

Those who wish may contribute in Linda's memory to the Corn Bible Academy High School in care of Ferry Funeral Home

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com