Martha Sue Peace

Martha Sue Peace died in the presence of her loving family on October 7 at the UT Tyler Heath Center Hospice. She was born Martha Sue DeWees to Ethel and Joseph DeWees on November 28, 1928. She was raised in Rockwall, Texas where she knew her husband, Herman Lee Peace, her entire life. They married on November 26, 1947. She stayed in the home raising her children until 1960 when she entered Howard Payne University and became a secondary English teacher. She went back to school and earned her Masters Degree in Library Science in 1971; Martha was a School Librarian until she retired in 1988. Herman and Martha move to Hawkins in 1989.

Martha loved to sing, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church Choir in Hawkins Texas. Martha was an avid reader, had great taste in shoes, and loved to travel. She had a strong interest in genealogy, which led her to become active in the Daughters of the American Revolution where she was a past Regent of the Elizabeth Denton English Chapter and a Charter Member, a past Regent, and Honorary Regent of the John Hogg, Sr. Chapter.

Martha was preceded in death by her father in 1947, mother in 1999 and older sister, JoAnn Curry in 2007. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Herman Lee Peace, children Herman Lee Peace Jr., Dr. Michael Christopher Peace and daughter, Susan Gayle Fitzgerald; along with her sisters, Doris Blackburn, Imogene Duke and Sara Bob Gaston. Martha and Herman have seven grandchildren, Amanda Rocca, Christopher Peace, Jennifer Peace, Lauren Peace, Rita Miller, Thomas Fitzgerald, and Rebecca Dach; and five great-grandchildren, Victoria Burge, Jayden Rocca, Elena Miller, Ayden Thompson, and Logan Fitzgerald.

Martha was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She and Herman's playful and deep love for each other was inspiring and uplifting to all who knew them. We were blessed to have her for 80 years. She was a wonderful example of self sacrificing love and she will be missed by all who knew her.

If you wish to come and say good-bye, the viewing will be Thursday October 9 from 6-8 pm at Beaty Funeral Home, Blackbourn at Ash St., Hawkins, Texas. Services will be Friday October 10 at 10 am at the First United Methodist Church in Hawkins, Texas and grave-side services will be 3 pm at the Mount Zion Cemetery in Rockwall, Texas.