Fay Ann

Fay Ann Martin December 2, 1932 - September 16, 2021 On Thursday September 16th, 2021 Fay Ann (Clifton) Martin, age 88 years 9 months, ended her vigilant struggle with Congestive Heart Failure. At the time of her passing she was surrounded by a large host of her loving family. Born December 2, 1932 at the Clifton family farm near Cambridge City, Indiana, Fay Ann was the oldest of the 3 children of the late Russell Thomas Clifton and Esther Arleva (Dill) Clifton. Her parents, Russell and Esther, along with their 1 year old Fay Ann, moved to their new family farm southwest of Hagerstown, Indiana where she lived until she married her husband in 1958. Growing up as a farm girl, Fay Ann had many different chores around the homestead. With cows, sheep, chickens, horses, pigs and some dogs and cats thrown in, and no brother until she was 18, a lot was expected on the farm from sisters Fay Ann and Freida, who was 4 years younger. The sisters maintained a very close relationship over the years writing to each other almost every week for the past 55 plus years. After graduating in 1950 from Hagerstown High School, Fay Ann began work as secretary to the principal at nearby New Castle Junior High School. She worked in New Castle until she moved to Ohio in 1958 following her marriage to her husband Paul, or as she most often referred to him as, “my Paul”. In August, 1954 Fay Ann met a young soldier, Paul Martin, who was home on leave. Introduced by Paul’s sister, Susie, Paul and Fay Ann were soon communicating regularly. They wrote letters when Paul was away serving the country and spending time together when he was home. They shared a love for Indiana basketball and Cincinnati Reds baseball. Many of their dates involved trips to either Hagerstown or Centerville High School basketball games Over the course of the next few years their love began to blossom and soon they were discussing their future together. On March 2, 1958 Paul and Fay Ann were married, left their respective lives on the farm and moved into a small apartment in New Lebanon as Paul had taken a job in Dayton. Soon they purchased and moved into their home in Farmersville, where they lived for more than 55 years and where they raised their family. Paul passed away in October, 2015, just shy of their 57th wedding anniversary. Fay Ann was a member of Slifer’s Presbyterian Church for over 60 years, faithfully serving as the head of the Greeting Card ministry sending out thousands of Birthday, Anniversary, Get Well, Sympathy or other cards over more than 35 years. For almost 1 year prior to the time of her passing Fay Ann (who was quick to correct any who called her “Fay”, or who addressed correspondence to her as “Fay A.”) had been under the attentive care of her 2 daughters Carol Ann Morton and Cinda Shell and who shared ‘custody’ of her since her ‘escape’ from the Covid lock-down of the assisted living center where she lived the previous 5 years. She had moved to the assisted living facility in February 2015 to help take care of ‘her Paul’, during the time of his declining health. Fay Ann was never effected by the Covid-19 virus, as she was protected away from the risk of exposure at the homes of her 2 daughters. Fay Ann is survived by: her 2 siblings; sister, Freida (Marvin- deceased 2020) Wilson, of Hagerstown, Indiana, her brother, Rex Thomas (Carolyn) Clifton of Cambridge City, Indiana, her 4 children; Carol Ann (Philip) Morton of Germantown, Cinda (Greg) Shell of Farmersville, Ohio, and Clifton (Jana) Martin of Eaton, Ohio, and Curtis (Darla) Martin of Hartwell, Georgia. Fay Ann was also extremely proud of her 12 grandchildren; Amy (DeWight) Smith, Isaac (Heather) Morton, Jonathan (Danielle) Morton, Tangy (Bill) Thomas, Jason (Jeni) Shell, Andrew Martin, Katie (Brady) Bolen, Elizabeth (Dillon) Davison, Matthew (Kaatla) Martin, Evan (Kyle) Shook, Destiny (Nathan) Miller, and Daniel Martin. Also surviving Fay Ann are 16 great-grandchildren plus 2 new great-grandchildren due to arrive in the upcoming months. A large number of other relatives and innumerable friends will also miss Fay Ann Martin. Services will be officiated by long time Family friend Rev. Rick Wharton at Slifer’s Presbyterian Church on 2999 S. Clayton Rd. Farmersville, Ohio. Visitation at 10AM, Funeral Service follows at 12 noon. Internment will be at Holp Cemetery adjacent to the church.