Clara Ellen Martin (Langstaff)

SIOUX CITY -- Clara Ellen Martin, 93, of Sioux City died Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at Countryside Senior Living Community.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at St. James United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ryan Christenson officiating. Following the serivce Friday, the body will be cremated. Burial will be at a later date in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 11:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com .
Clara was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Bronson, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Anna (Sutton) Langstaff. She was raised in Bronson, where she graduated from Bronson High School in 1935. She moved to Sioux City in 1936.
She married Edward Kelsey. She then married LaVerle M. Martin on April 15, 1949, in South Sioux City. He died on Nov. 28, 1984, in Sioux City. The family lived in New York state from 1954 to 1961, then returned to Sioux City in 1961. She was the personnel manager for Kresge's Department Store in Sioux City for 20 years before retiring.
She was a member of St. James United Methodist Church. She was very involved in church activities. She was a volunteer for the St. James United Methodist Church Messenger. She also volunteered at Lutheran Social Services as a senior companion. She enjoyed doing crafts and playing cards.
Survivors include three children, Edward and Iris Martin, Michael and Julie Martin and Marsha and Michael Bedwell; a sister-in-law, Shirley Langstaff; four grandchildren, Edward Martin Jr., Shane Martin, Derek Martin, and Melissa Paulson; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and four brothers, Myron, Archie, Harold and Delbert Langstaff.