Obituary of Emily "Jakie" Martin

Emily Dudley “Jakie” Martin, of Bridgeport, WV, left this life on November 20, 2020 after an extended illness and 92 years of joyful living. She was born on May 16, 1928, in Parsons, WV, the older daughter of Sylvia and Howard Dudley. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her younger sister, Colleen Dudley Lane and husband Roy Lane of Goldsboro, NC., as well as special cousins, Dwight Dudley, of Huntington, WV, Jeannine Medaglia of Bradenton, FL., and many other family members of Tucker County, WV. Jakie is survived by her husband Philip Martin, of Bridgeport, WV, their daughter, Ann Wanstreet and husband Mark, Clarksburg; grandson Tyler Wanstreet and his wife, Rebecca, and great-grandchildren Jack and Katherine Wanstreet, also of Clarksburg; and granddaughter Kerry Musgrave and her husband Preston of Monterey, CA. Also surviving are niece Ellen Martin, of Grosse Point Woods, MI; niece Anne Moiseev, of Springfield, NJ and her children Robbie and Laura; cousin, Shirley Dudley and her sons Dwight David and Todd, of Huntington, WV, their spouses and families; cousin Sondra Sukkariyyah and her husband Robert of St. Petersburg, FL., and their children Laila Michelle and Saraya Marie; Aunt Marguerite Mullennex, of Parsons, WV, and her children Donna and Hap. Jakie graduated from Parsons High School, WV in 1946 and entered Marshall College (University) in Huntington, WV where she graduated with a degree in Physical Education in 1950. Following graduation, she taught Girls Physical Education for three years at Hamilton High School in Hamilton, OH. While living in Huntington with her family after college, she became acquainted with a neighborhood boy, Phil Martin, who lived three houses up the street, and on April 4, 1953 they were married in Denver, CO, where Phil was stationed in the Air Force. When Jakie was only a few years old, her dad (who always wanted a son) introduced her to fishing in the Shavers Fork and Cheat Rivers in Tucker County, WV, and dressed her up in boys clothing and a big straw hat for their fishing trips. He said, “she looks like a country Jake,” and that name, feminized with an “ie” stuck with her for the rest of her life. Fishing became one of the “ties that bind” for Jakie and Phil throughout their 67 years of marriage, with thousands of hours spent on streams and lakes in Colorado, South Dakota, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Jakie was very active in the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church especially as a Charter member, Elder, and the first Clerk of Session at the church. One of the great Christian talents she had was the ability to have people smiling or laughing within one minute of seeing them; old friends and strangers alike. She was very active as a troop leader and Girl Scout Council Member in Harrison County, WV. Her favorite vacations included beach vacations to Topsail Island and Emerald Isle, NC and she dearly loved over a dozen small ship cruises on US Inland Waterways, many with friends Judy Gehr, Dorothy Powelson, and the late Bill Powelson. Her life was full and truly and graciously led. Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant. Services are being handled by the Ford Funeral Home, 215 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV. Because of the Covid Pandemic, there will be no visitation or formal church service. Burial will take place in the Bridgeport Cemetery with a small family graveside service conducted by Pastor Robin Ray of the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com. Family members, especially daughter Ann and husband Phil, wish to express their sincere appreciation for the love and care shown to Jakie while a resident at River Oaks Nursing Home in Nutter Fort, WV. The entire staff loved her and will miss her “words of wisdom.”