Glenna Lee Martin

Glenna Lee Martin, age 66, was called home by her Lord peacefully in her sleep on Friday, May 23, 2020. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Glenna was born on Sept. 21, 1954, to Glen and Dorothy Martin in Palestine, Texas. Her family moved to Frankston, Texas, in 1962. At Frankston High School, Glenna enjoyed playing basketball and running track. As a teenager, Glenna and her sisters worked at their parents' business, Martin’s Marina on Lake Palestine. Besides working at the marina, she also enjoyed swimming, water skiing, fishing, and boating with friends and family.

After attending Lon Morris College, Glenna moved to Austin where she had the opportunity to learn and become skilled in her chosen career as a professional baker at Green Pastures and Chez Bazan restaurants. When she returned to the East Texas area, Glenna worked as a baker at Nut N Fancy Bakery, Brookshire’s Bakery and Sadler’s until her illness prevented her from the professional work she loved so much. She worked at Rusk State Hospital until her declining health led to her retirement in 2011.

Glenna was especially known for her multi-layer, intricately decorated wedding cakes. She generously and proudly made the wedding cakes for the weddings of sisters and nieces. Her holiday specialty baking included wonderfully decorated cookies and baklava. She was an exceptional baker and enjoyed cooking for family and friends.
Glenna was also an exceptional seamstress. While living in Rusk, she volunteered for the Cherokee Civic Theater and made elaborate costumes for the performances. She enjoyed traveling, once driving across the United States to visit Canada, and traveled to Jamaica, Cozumel, and other destinations for vacation.

Glenna will be remembered for her gregarious, sweet personality and irresistible, Texas sized smile. Throughout her life she never met a stranger and easily engaged others in conversation. She was the sister who was always happy and positive, always taking the time to see that family and those around her were happy, too.
Glenna is survived by her mother, Dorothy Butler Martin; and four sisters and their spouses, Barbara and Roy Haws, Patty Price, Mary and Eddie Milham, and Becky and Roy Pemberton. Her surviving nieces and nephews, whom she dearly loved and enjoyed, include, Kimberly Riley and husband Matt, Jonathan Price and wife Tina, Kristina Wilson and husband Mike, Justin Williams and fiancée Heather Allen, Edward Starling III and wife Amanda, Jason Starling, Jennifer Starling and Daniel Phillips; and many great-nieces and nephews. Glenna was preceded in death by her father, Glen Ray Martin; and brother-in-law, Judson Price.

Glenna was baptized in the Frankston United Methodist Church where she continued to keep her membership. Due to continuing public health related issues, a memorial for Glenna will be held later. She will be interred at Cedar Creek Cemetery, Bastrop County, in the Martin family plot.