Martha Sheern

Martha A. Sheern, age 86, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at Golden Heights in Garnett. She was born on February 11, 1923 at Garnett, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Inez (Boucher) Neal. Martha graduated from Garnett High School in 1941. She was the Salutatorian of her class. Following high school Martha attended Baker University for one year before she attended the KU School of Nursing, graduating in 1945. Martha was united in marriage to Ralph Sheern on July 28, 1944 at Garnett, Kansas. This union was blessed with five children. She worked at KU Medical Center in Kansas City from 1945-1947, moving to Garnett in 1947. In 1951, she was one of the founding nurses at Anderson County Hospital in Garnett. Over her forty year career she worked at many facilities in the Garnett area including, the Richmond, Arkhaven, and McLeod's Nursing Homes, the Medical Center Clinic in Garnett, and at the Osawatomie State Hospital. Martha was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church and Altar Society; PEO; a charter member of the Friends of the Library Book Club. She was also a member of the Anderson County R.N. Club, which was instrumental in establishing the local sanitary landfill and the retention of fluoride in the drinking water. She was an accomplished painter, and she enjoyed sewing, reading, and hiking through the woods. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Charles Neal; and her daughter, Christine Sheern in 1970. Martha is survived by her husband, Ralph Sheern, of the home; one son, Doug Sheern and wife Cindy of Abilene, Kansas; three daughters, Ann Jones and husband Tom of Hiawatha, Kansas; Nancy Reeve and husband John of Los Angeles, California; Terry Singer and husband Randy of Garnett, Kansas; eleven grandchildren, one step granddaughter; eleven great grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett. Burial will follow at the Holy Angels Cemetery, with her grandchildren serving as casketbearers and honorary casketbearers. Family will greet friends following a rosary at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening, January 8, 2010, at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Golden Heights or to the Garnett Public Library or to the Holy Angels Church building fund.