They say it will take a LONG time to realize a loved one is gone. I know this is true, because we wake up everyday to reality setting in......over and over. There are so many things I would like to tell her, ask/talk to her about, watch her teach our kids, see the impact she would make on their lives as well as ours.
We know that she's in a better place, but we miss her so much. I thank her for the way she raised her son, who is the best husband and father to our children. I am also thankful for the way she made me feel loved, and treated me as one of her own.
Though we knew her time was short, we were all still surprised when she was gone. There were 2 very scary ways in which the medical professionals thought she would pass. She asked Drew many times to pray that she would go in peace, and she did. We are thankful for that as well.
Her funeral was beautiful, and Bro. Benjamin did an awesome job honoring her life. We pulled from things she had written down, pictures from around the house, and her own music collection for the program/slideshow/song choices. And let me say, the hardest thing my husband and I have ever done together, would most definitely be writing her obituary. We wanted so badly for it to show just how respected and wonderful of a lady she was.
Marta Sue (Pearson) Honeycutt was born July 26,
1953 to her beloved parents, Dain and Juanita Pearson in Detroit, Michigan. Her
first taste of teaching came with the birth of her brother, Dain Timothy in
1958. Marta cherished her childhood, which shaped her into the wonderful woman
that we all loved. She was a graduate of Lahser High School in Bloomfield
Hills, MI then went on to Michigan State University where she graduated with a
Bachelor of Science in Education in 1975. She began her first teaching job at
Clarkston Elementary that fall. As fate would have it, she would meet a young
man from Cabool, Missouri that same year. She and Michael William Honeycutt
were united in marriage on October 1, 1977 and the city girl would begin her
life in the country. Moving from suburbia to South of Cabool was quite a change
for Marta. After a couple breakdowns and “What was I thinking!” moments, she
realized she was right where God intended her to be.
Teaching was Marta's passion and she began her
career at Cabool during the 1978-79 school year. Soon, she and Mike would
welcome two sons, Brenten William and Drew Tanner. She chose to stay home with
them during their early years, but went back to teaching once they were in
school. She loved her students as her own, and saw potential in each one. Marta
truly cared about those that she taught, but beyond the classroom, she loved
kids and adults alike for who they were. It was a hard decision, but Marta
retired from her lifelong passion in 2003. Her legacy of 20+ years of teaching
in the Cabool School district will live on forever. She was thrilled to be
invited back to speak at the Commencement for the final class that she taught,
the Class of 2010.
Her teaching career was her driving force
through most of her life, but the most important and fulfilling role was when
she became “Grammy” in 2008 to Briley William, son of Brent and Nichole. Two
more grandsons would be born to who they would call “Mimi”, Griffin Tanner in
2011 and Cooper Joseph in 2014, both sons of Drew and Sarah. She lived and
breathed for these three boys, and loved spending time with them more than
anything else in the world.
Marta enjoyed traveling (especially to the
beach), swimming, collecting bunnies, concerts, reading, and visiting with
friends. She was very active as a member of the First Baptist Church until
illness slowed her down in recent years. Marta was small in size but she was
mighty in her faith and she was made of pure determination. She met all of
life's challenges head-on and her journey has inspired many. Marta hardly met a
stranger, and genuinely cared about everyone she encountered.
She loved her family, her friends, and her
former students more than words can ever say. She will be missed dearly by all
that knew her, but she will never be forgotten because of her caring nature and
the lasting effects she had on all, near and far.
Preceding her in death were her father Dain
Tanner Pearson, whom she adored, and her equally wonderful mother, Juanita Faye
Pearson.
Marta's life will be forever celebrated by her
husband Mike; her children Brent, Nichole, Drew, and Sarah; her grandchildren
Briley, Griffin, & Cooper; her brother Dain; her sister-in-law Sherry; her
parents-in-law Bill & Pat; her nephews Evan & Max; as well as multiple
cousins, extended family, and special friends.
May we all try to have an positive impact on
those around us, as she did.
One of her absolute favorite singers was James Taylor. And this song will always be special.
