Martha Marie Stanley's Obituary
Martha Marie Kable Stanley (although she'll always be "Mimi" to us) passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024 at the remarkable age of 101.
Born and raised in Memphis, she was a Central High School alum, married her sweetheart David shortly before he was shipped overseas to fight in the second World War, and then did her part to continue contributing to the baby boom upon his return. The antics of her five children would ensure she was able to keep an open mind to whatever life could possibly throw at a person, and her extraordinary acceptance of new people and new ideas was truly ahead of its time as a result. A member of Germantown Presbyterian Church, she adamantly believed God didn't make mistakes and so everyone was deserving of love.
Observant, sharp, bold, independent, and quite funny, Mimi knew exactly who she was. She was unashamed of her love of all things gaudy and loud, was opinionated but always game for debate, and was a fierce advocate for properness, yet disdainful of snobbery. You did not wonder where you stood with Mimi - she told you - often and at length. She also had an uncanny memory, especially when it came to things no one else could verify.
A stint as an interior designer in the mid-70's would give her all the authority she needed to comment upon anyone's personal taste for the next 50+ years - and the thing was, she was almost always right. A lover of the arts, she was a passionate painter and a frequenter of Brooks, Dixon, and The Orpheum, and she was incredibly generous in sharing this love with others.
An avid boater, she and David would cruise up and down the Mississippi River and its tributaries with their family and friends in a series of ever-larger vessels until his untimely death in 1985. While she would never remarry, this did not stop her children and grandchildren from trying their very best to make up for that. She had a deep and abiding love of Christmas in no small part because it's the most lurid and extravagant of holidays, filled with tinsel and lights and garland and ornate wrapping paper...but also, of course, because it brought her family together.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband David, her brother Nick, her youngest son Scott, and nearly all of her oldest friends, and is survived by four children (Faye Wyatt, David Stanley Jr. [Becky), Michael Stanley, and Jan Kellum), nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, her dear friend Eugene, and a slew of their spouses (some current and many former).
A memorial service will be held at 1pm on December 21, 2024 at Germantown Presbyterian Church. While she would no doubt love the idea of you sending flowers in her honor, she would be the first to tell you, "I can't even see them, ya dingbat!" and encourage you to donate to Church Health, The Salvation Army, or a charity close to your heart.
What’s your fondest memory of Martha?
What’s a lesson you learned from Martha?
Share a story where Martha's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Martha you’ll never forget.
How did Martha make you smile?