Martha Derrick

Martha Elizabeth Merritt Derrick went to Heaven to be with the Lord on September 21, 2012 at the age of 92. Martha was born on a small ranch southwest of Plains, Texas on February 17th, 1920. A short time later the family moved to a ranch East of Lake Arthur, New Mexico where she grew up and graduated from high school. Many of her childhood days were spent herding sheep. Each day her brothers and sisters would divide up the sheep in groups of 300 to 400 and headoff in different directions to find grass. They would each take their dinner in a little pail and stay out all day. Martha sometimes read Gene StrattonPorter novels while the sheep grazed. This was during the Great Depression and the family did not have enough money to buy shoes so they went out barefooted. Their feet became very tough but they didnt think anything about it because it was just a way of life. It was this kind of ranch toughness that carried Martha through life, always meeting adversity without complaining and determination to overcome. After graduating high school, she went to college in Portales obtaining her teaching certificate. She taught grades 18 in a one room school house, in Rippee, NM for a year before she heard her country calling. Martha joined the war effort by enlisting in the WAACS Womens Auxiliary Army Corp. in 1942. She was stationed in Ayer Massachusetts at Fort Devens where she served her country through the end of the war and was honorably discharged. One of her duties was driving a truck transporting German prisoners of war that had been sent state side. After the war, she married the neighboring ranchers son, Buddy Derrick. They had 4 children, three girls and one boy. Martha was a beautiful seamstress and made clothes for her girls. She had a hard time finding good quality material that she liked and decided to do something about it. Thus began her next adventure in life. In 1962 she opened Marthas Fabric Shop on Main Street in Artesia. After 50 years in operation her stores are still open today in Artesia and Ruidoso. The stores remain known today for their quality and variety of material. For 50 years, Martha has been weaving compassion, beauty, and inspiration into the fabric of peoples lives. She has become famous for her unparalleled selection. A recent customer sent a note stating, When one enters Marthas Fabrics they enter a wonderful world of color, texture, and design. Martha is and will be remembered by all as an icon in the fabric business. In 2008, she was honored in Washington D.C. with an award representing New Mexico as one of Americas Older Outstanding Workers.
P styletextalign: justify lineheight: 12.75ptShe is preceded in death by her husband Buddy Derrick, her parents Robert Lee and Lena Ward Merritt, and her brother Chris Merritt. o:po:pP
P styletextalign: justify lineheight: 12.75ptShe is survived by her sister, Bobbie McDonald of st1:placest1:CityRoswellst1:City, st1:StateN.M.st1:Statest1:place and her brother Billy Merritt of st1:Cityst1:placeRoswellst1:placest1:City. She is also survived by her daughters, Dinah DeSoto and husband Gary of Carlsbad, N.M., Cassandra Witherspoon and husband Dee of Artesia, and Clarissa Derrick of st1:placest1:CityRuidosost1:City, st1:StateN.M.st1:Statest1:place, and her son Louis Derrick and wife Valerie of San Antonio, Texas. Martha is also survived by her grandchildren, Gary Louis DeSoto, Leigh Langley, David DeSoto, Merritt Witherspoon, Austin Witherspoon, Braeden Derrick, and one great grandson Jackson Langley. o:po:pP
P styletextalign: justify lineheight: 12.75ptServices will be held at the Hermosa Drive Church of Christ in Artesia at st1:time Hour14 Minute02:00 PMst1:time on Tuesday, September 25th. Burial will be at st1:placest1:PlaceNameTwinst1:PlaceName st1:PlaceNameOaksst1:PlaceName st1:PlaceTypeMemorial Parkst1:PlaceTypest1:place. o:po:pP
P styletextalign: justify lineheight: 12.75ptVisitation will be at Terpening amp Son Mortuary Monday beginning at st1:time Hour10 Minute010:00 a.m.st1:time o:po:pP
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