Martha Alleyne Heal

Loving mother, Martha Alleyne Heal, 93, passed away peacefully into God's welcoming arms on February 20, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her daughter by her side. She was born on November 23, 1929, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to James O. and Mary Louise Sparks Beane. Martha was the oldest of 6 children and had to take on additional daughterly duties at the age of 16 when her mother unexpectedly died from complications relating to childbirth. 

After graduating from Owensboro High School, Martha married Walter Heal, a soldier she met when he was visiting his father next door. His career took them first to Texas where her first two children, Janet and Bob, were born. In 1952 at the age of 22 she sailed from NY to Germany with an infant and toddler in tow to meet up with her husband stationed there for three years. She had never traveled that far by herself let alone with two little ones. Gary, her second son, was born in Germany and Martha said she never wanted to be away from the USA that long again.

In 1958 after Walt returned from South Korea, they were stationed in Louisiana, in Texas again, and then in Indiana where Walt finally retired and their last child, Stephen, was born. Once their children were old enough, Martha worked at several jobs and finally retired from the LaGrange County Hospital in the admitting department. 

Walt and Martha stayed there until 1999 when they returned to Owensboro one last time wanting to be near Martha's extended family. Walt died in 2014 after nearly 66 years of marriage. In 2015 Martha joined her daughter in Arizona so that they could be together in her final years. She always remarked how much fun it was that the two of them could finally spend so much time together.

Martha was a gentle, kind, and loving woman who was always willing to please. She loved to cook for her family, friends, and church, and very much enjoyed gardening and other yard work. She was loved for her quick smile and her appreciative demeanor. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Owensboro and volunteered there in several ministries. She always loved being with her family and friends, of which she had many.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Walt, two sisters, Betty Troutman (Bob) and Mary Ruth Emerson, (David) a brother, James O. Beane, Jr., (Phyllis), a granddaughter, Keri Heal, and a great-grandson, Bentley Waller.

Martha is survived by daughter, Janet Heal Wildeboor (Ed); sons, Bob Heal (Janis), Gary Heal (Cathy) and Stephen Heal (Crystal); brother, Tom Beane (Barbara) of Maceo; and sister, Linda Jones (Frank) of Owensboro. She was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren in addition to numerous extended family members locally and across the country.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday March 4, 2023, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be at Owensboro Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to First Christian Church, 700 J.R. Miller Blvd,

Owensboro, KY 42303. 

Memories and condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.glenncares.com