Marthella Steves Simpson Spoonemore, age 81, died peacefully on January 6, 2014, after a long battle with cancer. Marthella was born on November 25, 1932, in Bay City, Texas, to Bert and Frances Steves.

She attended Bay City High School where she was drum major of the high school band and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1950. After attending SMU for 1 year, she transferred to the University of Texas in Austin where she received her degree in elementary education and met and married her first husband, Earl Edward Simpson. Marthella taught school in Bay City and 'retired' from teaching to raise her family after moving to Houston. They moved to Naperville, Illinois, then returned to Kingwood, Texas, where she became a realtor and received many accolades during her real estate career. She was a member of Kingwood Methodist Church and active with the 'Piddlers' and other social groups. After Ed's death, she remained in Kingwood and continued to work and provide mentorship to new realtors. On Valentine's Day, 2009, she married former high school classmate, James Spoonemore. They were living in Canyon Lake at the time of her death. She taught us love, compassion, dignity, humbleness, warmth, humor, nurturing, forgiveness, caring, manners and much more. Marthella had a zest for life that carried over to those who were around her. She was loved by many and will be miss but remembered lovingly by all who knew her.

Marthella was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband of 50 years, Ed Simpson. She is survived by: her husband, James Spoonemore; her children: Martha Lindsey of East Dundee, IL, Dan (Lynette) Simpson and Steve (Carleen) Simpson, all of League City, TX; her grandchildren: Keri Lindsey of Seattle, WA, Amanda Simpson of Austin, TX, and Chris Lindsey of Chicago, IL; her step children: Sandy (Mike) Strickland of Bastrop, TX, and David Spoonemore of Corpus Christi, TX; her siblings: Taylor (Sandra) Steves of Bay City, TX, Lew (Judy) Steves of Bellevue, WA, Savanna (Albert) Franklin of Bay City, TX, and Diana (John) Null of Sugar Land, TX. As the matriarch of a large family she also is survived by many step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank the staff at CHRISTUS Sister Mary Hospice Center for their thoughtful and loving care during Marthella's final days.

A visitation took place on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, Texas 77339. The funeral service took place on Friday, January 10, 2014 also at Kingwood Funeral Home.

Marthella was then laid to rest at Houston National Cemetery with her first husband, Ed on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the or to The CHRISTUS Sister Mary Hospice Center, 5131 Medical Drive, Suite 310, San Antonio, TX 78229.