Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend Anita Ellen Martin passed away on March 13, 2021, in Wellington, Kansas.

She was born Anita Ellen Subeldia on March 15, 1926, right here in Wellington - the town she called home for all of her 95 years. Her loving mother, Clara Ellen Jessup, died in childbirth when Anita was only 15, leaving behind three younger half-siblings. With the support of her kind grandmother Clara Ellen McNett and step-father William Jessup, Anita raised her siblings while still going to school.

In 1940 she married family friend Kenneth Whitaker. They had three daughters, Judy, Sally, and Sandy. They divorced in 1961 but remained friendly until his death in 1988.

On Valentine's Day 1965, Anita went on her first date with the man who would become the love of her life, Halbert Martin. They have remained one another's sweethearts ever since. They especially loved going to dances together, a tradition they carried on well into their senior years.

They were married July 15, 1967, and after a special honeymoon trip to Missouri and Arkansas, they moved into the house Halbert himself built for her. Together they made it a home. Anita was known for her hospitality. Anyone was welcome at her big dining table which sat right in the heart of her home: her kitchen. You could often find her hard at work preparing a dish from one of the hundreds of cookbooks she collected, or serving vegetables grown in the large garden she and Hal lovingly tended together. Her children and grandchildren would often stop by to visit, or to crowd around that same table for holidays, celebrations, and rowdy card games!

Anita was also known for her connections in Wellington, having lived here for her entire long life. She could rattle off names, dates, and histories for just about everyone she ever knew. She was also a well-known waitress over the years, serving customers at Donahue's, Ramsey's, The Korner Cafe, Ken's Cafe, and the Elk's Club. After marrying Halbert, they operated Martin Realty, where she worked until retiring in 1987.

Anita loved playing cards, and she and a group of local ladies met weekly for bridge and pinochle for the past decade. She was a big fan of country music, especially George Strait (the only non-family member to earn a framed photo in her home). She also loved watching The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. She particularly enjoyed a recent trip to the restaurant and ranch in Pawhuska and meeting Mr Drummond aka the Marlboro Man!

For 44 years, Anita and her daughters spent a special weekend in March together to celebrate her birthday. In fact, it was the last thing they all did together in 2020 before the pandemic. When she passed away, Anita was just two days shy of turning 95, and though she didn't make it to her birthday, she was once again surrounded by her daughters in her last hours.

Anita was the matriarch of our family and though we know she is now at peace with God, her absence here will be deeply felt.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Anita's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Wellington Food Bank. Contributions can be left at the funeral home.

Preceded in death by her mother and step-father Clara and William Jessup, her father Alvaro Subeldia, and her half-siblings Louella Wricks, Patsy White, Gary Jessup, and Janice Darlene.

Survived by:

Loving and devoted husband: Halbert Martin

Daughters and Sons-in Law: Judy and Phil Tewell, Sally and Tom McMinn, Sandy and Bob Robinson

Grandchildren: Teri Arredondo and husband John, Jana Brown and husband Ross, Chris Robinson and wife Traci, Amy James and husband Ben, Ashley McMinn

Great Grandchildren: Devin Brown and wife Summer, Taylor Brown, Brendan Robinson, Hudson, India, and Rosemary James, Olivia and Kenzie Borland, and Vincent Kuhlman

Great Great Grandchildren: Escher and Isla Brown

Graveside Services will be held at Prairie Lawn Cemetery on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 2:00 P.M.  Chaplain Dan Floyd will officiate. Masks required please.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 1:00 – 7:00 P.M.

Frank