Nora Kathalise (Kathy Welch) Martin passed away peacefully at her home In Daleville, AL, July 25th, 2006, after fighting a brave and gallant battle Against lung and brain cancer for 4 years, never wavering and never Quitting the fight.
Kathalise was born January 17th, 1952, at the Old War
Memorial Hospital in Leesville, LA. She grew up in
The Jackson Chapel Community of Vernon Parish, LA, attending
Pickering High School and later marrying Jason Martin, an
Army Officer and Helicopter Pilot stationed at Ft. Polk, LA.
Kathalise had a very interesting and productive life. While
Traveling with her husband to various Army bases
She did extensive volunteer work for The American Red
Cross where she served as Public Relations Director and
Disaster Relief Coordinator. Kathalise vigorously pursued duties as Publicity Director for the Prestonsburg, Ky, Harley Owners Group. She participated Extensively with the Relay For Life, sponsoring several teams in Kentucky And North Carolina, and being an Honored Guest Speaker At the Kick off dinner and the Relay itself in Washington County, North Carolina.
Kathalise also worked as a Volunteer with the Washington County Emergency Team Along with Ms. Anne Keyes, director. She was a certified Weather watcher, reporting storm sightings to emergency agencies.
The last and most important thing Kathalise did before
Becoming ill was to be certified as a Guardian ad Litem
For the state of North Carolina to investigate and report
Child abuse, a position which gave her great satisfaction.
Kathalise was preceded in death by her father Herman Lester
Welch, her mother LaFern Reeks Welch, 3 brothers:
Lester James Allen Welch, Lawrence Murl Welch and
Laired E. (Larry) Welch. A brother, Herman Michael Welch
Was born in 1953 but did not survive.
She is survived by her loving and caring husband of 24 years
LTC (US Army Ret.) Jason H. Martin Jr, and two sons:
John Michael Mahalko, his wife Alicia and grandchildren Zachary John And Kathalise Ann of Tuscon, Arizona, is currently
Based in Sasebo, Japan with the US Navy; Paul Brandon Frusha
And wife Theresa Lynne, granddaughter Kaya Rain
And grandson Rider Sage in Enterprise, AL; two sisters: Kayla Sue Scott, Leesville, LA, and Karole A. Inman and her husband, James H. Inman, Of Prairieville, LA, and one brother: C.J.Welch, and his wife, Sandy, of Leesville, LA. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 7 Oct 2006 at the Jackson Chapel Church of Christ, Leesville, LA. In lieu of flowers, Kathalise's request was that acts Of kindness be directed to the Jackson Chapel.
