Martha Elizabeth Statler

Martha Elizabeth Nowlin Statler, age 86, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, January 9, 2013. She was born in Rolla, Arkansas on May 2, 1926 to the late Bill and Martha Elliott Nowlin. She was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church of Traskwood and loved reading, teaching, and traveling. Martha started her love of teaching in 1943 at the age of seventeen where she taught first and second graders at Glen Rose Elementary School. She completed her teaching degree in 1962, which she obtained at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. In 1946 she began teaching at Harmony Grove Elementary School until becoming the librarian. During her time in both the classrooms and the school library, Martha passed on her love of reading and showed how books could enrich the lives and minds of the children she taught. She retired in 1992 after thirty-six years in the education field. After retirement, she traveled and volunteered for many years at Saline Memorial Hospital. In addition to being a mother, wife, Christian woman, teacher, and librarian, she also was a licensed realtor in Oklahoma and Arkansas, working at Phillips Real Estate, Inc. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband whom she married in 1946, E.C. Statler; three grandchildren, Stacie Statler Coddington, Wesley Gene Thweatt, and Jodi Carter; her brother and sister-in-law, George Nowlin and wife Mary, and her sister Arline Nowlin Dempsey. She is survived by her three daughters, Carolyn Carter and husband David, Marilyn Thweatt and husband Tal, and Nancy Hampel and husband Mike all of Benton; five grandchildren, Glen Carter, Aaron Kelley, Jennifer Carter and husband Curtis, Matt Hampel, and Lindsey Parker and husband Chad; ten great-grandchildren, Jordin, Alli, and Emily Carter, Megan, Taylor, and Kindsey Kelley, Abigail, Elizabeth, and Jonathan Carter, and Cade Parker; one great-grandson, Kason Sumler; numerous other relatives, and many friends. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 12, 2012 at Roller-Ballard Funeral Home in Benton (501-315-4047) with Dr. Robbie Horne officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Harmony Cemetery in Haskell. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2012 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkston Circle, North Little Rock, Ark. 72116. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to Becky, Deanna, Amber, and the entire staff at Arkansas Hospice for the love and care shown to Mrs. Statler during her time spent under hospice care and to the staff at Ridgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation for the past three years. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ballard.