Martha Lou Stegall-Gerstner-Kielhorn, a mother, Meme, Great-Meme, Great-Great Meme, artist, farmer, florist, mechanic, interior designer, paralegal, teacher, caretaker, and mentor, finally felt comfortable enough to hand over her reins of Matriarch on the morning of September 28, 2024, laying in the loving arms of her granddaughter, Lacey Lyn, like she always said she would. Martha Lou was born August 22, 1939, to Opal and JD Stegall in Wichita Falls, TX. During her childhood years, Martha lived in Temple, Oklahoma, then in numerous towns in Kansas, Missouri, and finally to Burkburnett, TX, where she lived most of her life after the age of 40. Martha Lou wore many hats during her working years, from farming and ranching to interior designing and owning a floral shop. She was able to do anything she put her mind to and instilled those values in her children and grandchildren.
Martha was a lover of children, animals, and the less fortunate. She spent many hours volunteering at local shelters and would help anyone who needed it. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her, and her death has created a void in her family’s hearts that will never be filled.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, JD and Opal Stegall; her daughter, Sheri McCarthy; her son, Bill Gerstner; her brother, James “Jim” Stegall; and her niece she helped raise, Brenda Street. Martha is survived by her granddaughter, best friend, and #1 fan, Lacey Adcock and husband Chris of Anna, TX; her grandson, Josef McCarthy and wife Jessica of Wichita Falls, TX; adopted granddaughter, Kacy Ansohn; her great-grandchildren, Alexis, Layton, Rylee-ann, Easton, Callum, and Jaydan Dickey; Kiley, Kennedy, and Katen Adcock; and Oliver McCarthy; great-great-granddaughters, Lilah Patrice Campbell and Brixlee-Louise Willow Bandy; along with adopted family members, Kathy Dickey and husband Bobby Biddy, Crystal Dickey, and best friend, Mary Sue Drake of Burkburnett; and any other person reading this who heard her say, “Just call me Meme.”
The family would like to publicly thank James, Donna, and Jake Brown of Burkburnett for being incredibly helpful, kind, caring, and wonderful neighbors for over the past 25+ years, but especially the past 3. Thank you for keeping an eye on her and her yard for me when I could not; she loved you all so very much. – Lacey
Please read and live by her very last words, as those are her final wishes: “All of our girls are growing up…” For which I replied, “When do you think you and I will?” – “Never I hope!” – Her very last words.
The family will receive friends between 6 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the chapel of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley.com.
