Martha Louise Amyx

Martha Louise Amyx - Passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, May 5th at age 92 surrounded by family and her dog Molly. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Martha was born on January 19, 1926 in Atlanta, Kansas to Laurence and Mary Elizabeth Ratts. Following the death of her mother at age three her father married Leota Brush who fulfilled the role of her mother. At age eight she made the most important decision of her life to make Jesus Christ her personal savior. Martha graduated from high school in Independence, Kansas in 1943 where she was the Baton Majorette for four years.

With World War II underway she got a job packing parachutes in Great Bend, Kansas. On a blind date she met the love of life, Corporal Jay Amyx from Ponder, Texas. They were married on Christmas Eve 1945 and the two became one.

Early 1946 they moved from Texas to Boise, Idaho where they raised their five children, Gordon, Kay, Duane, Crisha and Don. During the early years of the marriage she kept books for her husband’s business, Jay Amyx Construction Company. She carried these skills through to other Boise businesses. Prior to retirement she enjoyed 18 years of serving people at Hickory Farms Stores. Her husband preached at the Community Christian Center in Garden City and then they helped established the Mountain View Southern Baptist Church in Boise. In later years they became members of the Anchor Southern Baptist Church and Jay and Martha served on the Board of Trustees for the Idaho Baptist College. In 1948 they became charter members of the Boise branch of the Gideon’s International.

Martha and Jay were also charter members of the Horseless Carriage Club in Boise. They loved their antique cars and often dressed their entire family in clothes to match their 1914 Model T.

In their later years they had a desire to share the Gospel of Jesus with people around the world. They served on numerous mission trips including Russia, India, South Africa, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Peru, Mongolia, Turkey, Kenya, Poland and around the USA. Martha not only traveled to share the Gospel but her middle name was really “GO” and she visited 50 other countries through many cruises and other trips with her family and friends. Her suitcase was never fully unpacked.

1966 her husband Jay became Mayor of Boise and she graciously served eight years as the “First Lady” of Boise.

The most important thing for Martha was her family. Some of her favorite moments were having large family gatherings, Friday lunches with “the girls”, tea parties with the women in her family and cruises with anyone who would go with her.

The family of Martha offer their sincere thanks to Donna Amyx and the past five years to Penny Shattuck for faithful care and companionship.

Martha is survived by her five children and in laws, Gordon Amyx of Meridian, Kay and (Tom) Cox of Mountainburg, Arkansas, Duane and (Cheryl) Amyx of Boise, Lucretia and (Tim) Bollinger of Nampa and Don and (Beti) Amyx of Boise. Her brother Bill and (Barb) Ratts of Boise, 16 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 21 great, great grandchildren and her special K-nine companion Molly.

She is proceeded in death by her parents, a brother Marvin Ratts of Russel, Kansas, her husband Jay, an infant son Laurence and a daughter-in-law Liz Amyx.

Donations may be made in Martha's memory to:
Tom Cox World Ministries
PO Box 2
Mountainburg, AR 72946

A viewing will be held at Cloverdale Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 4-7pm. The funeral service will take place at the Cloverdale Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 11am with a reception and interment to follow.