Obituary

Martha (Marti) Jane Siddons passed away on Friday, September 16, 2011 at home. Marti was born on June 8th, 1952 in Tulsa to Jean and Howard Upton. Marti attended Hale High School (Class of 70). She was active in school plays & on the yearbook staff. Marti had a wonderful childhood in Tulsa. As an adult she lived several blocks from her parents with husband Jeff of 39 years. Her paternal grandparents, Howard Sr. and Marjorie Upton lived in Tahlequah, OK. Marti had Cherokee ancestry through her grandmother Marjorie Ross Upton related to Chief John Ross. Her maternal grandparents, John and Rose Devereaux moved to Tulsa from Chicago in their later years. Survived by husband Jeff and preceded in death by her father and survived by her mother and siblings: older sisters Pam Brown and Barbara Wright and brother Brian Upton. She was loved by her parents-in-law: Jim Siddons, deceased, and survived by Dolores (Dee) Siddons. In addition to her immediate family she is survived by her brothers-in-law Greg Brown, Jack Wright, Greg Bowers, Paul Siddons and sisters-in-law Elizabeth Upton and Sarah Bowers and their children. For Marti and Jeff it was love at first sight and he asked her to marry him in their senior year of high school. Sensibly they waited until June 8th (her birthday) 1973 while attending the University of Tulsa. Marti s love for Jeff was such that she transferred from OU to TU to be with him and on to New Brunswick, NJ when he attended graduate school where she worked as an editor for Princeton U. Next he dragged her to Chicago where after 9 months she had enough and asked to return home to her native state. The day she left the U. of Chicago offered her a job as an editor but it was too late as Jeff had already resigned his position at Northwestern U. Back home she worked for her father at Petroleum Equipment Institute, Brothers & Co. advertising firm & Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. Marti had a career as a writer & editor. She was good at her craft. She retired due to advancing Rheumatoid Arthritis to raise her two boys Upton (27) and Jeff (25). Her proudest lifetime achievements were the boys she loved dearly. After arthritis forced her to retire she wrote several romance novels that were published in digital form the first being Courting Oklahoma which still brings in small royalties to this day. Marti loved to read. During her British mystery period she was infatuated with Lord Peter Wimsey and Jeff asked his parents to send her a telegram from the fictional character while visiting London. When it arrived the look on her face was priceless! Later in life she became an avid Yankees fan. Marti was a fabulous cook. She used to joke that the more wine she drank the better the dish turned out. Marti loved dogs especially dachshunds and pugs. There are some waiting for her at home right now and some up in heaven with her including Lyle. Marti did her best to adapt to whatever the disease threw at her. Marti s RA began at 27 slowly crippling her until at age 40 putting her in a wheelchair. Numerous complications caused great pain, scarred her body and limited her mobility but she maintained a positive outlook and a wonderful personality up until the end. Thankfully she was able to raise and see her sons grow to adulthood. Marriage to Jeff only got better with time and was living proof that there can be enduring love at first sight. She will always remain bright and beautiful in our memories. Thank you God for letting us love and know Marti during her time on Earth. There will be a private memorial party for family and friends. “There’s no weeping at an Irish wake”. Donations in her name can be sent to breast cancer research, animal welfare, arthritis research and Clarehouse. And watch a good mystery on PBS for her. And now in the words Marti asked us to use: Snip, snap, snout this tale is told out !