Teresa Barnes Martin

Teresa Barnes Martin, 64, of Kansas City, passed away on Monday, June 24, 2024, at her sister's home in Sedalia, MO. She was born on June 13, 1960, in Boonville, MO, the daughter of Emil Lee Martin and Elaine Lee (Barnes) Martin, who preceded her in death.

Terry was the third of five children. She especially liked helping our parents and very much enjoyed driving the tractor and discing fields for planting. She performed any task requested of her without complaint. She was much like our mother in her unselfishness and told one sister that she wished our mother had done more things for herself sometimes instead of constantly doing for her children. Terry was known to lend money to people and never hounded them for repayment. There are always those who don't repay, and she didn't dwell on it. Those who repaid her were rewarded with the bonus of a priceless friend. Terry carried a lady-like dignity with her person. She was very intelligent and absorbed higher levels of math and science and trained to be a medical technician after graduating from Pilot Grove High School in 1978. Terry furthered her education at the University of Missouri Columbia, obtaining a Bachelor of Health Science Clinical Laboratory degree in 1988 with an emphasis in Medical Technology. She worked as a medical technologist in labs around Missouri, Kentucky, and Illinois. She considered herself to be spiritual, but a couple of times told a sister, "Once a Catholic, always a Catholic." She was a somewhat smart-alecky teenager who made her sisters laugh, but she was always a tender soul. She always shared conversations with all when around friends and relatives. She loved her family and traveled distances, mostly by car, to visit those of us from afar. She even wrote a children's book in which one character seemed to have a personality modeled after one of her sisters. She was self-reliant since early adulthood and kept her illness to herself. Her family would like to have shared the burden of her illness; however, she probably wouldn't have wanted our advice. We knew she was very ill, but not that her death was imminent. There will be a sad void, especially during holidays, since she is no longer with us. We are consoled by remembering her friendship, cheerfulness, and generosity, and knowing our biological bond with her is everlasting and gives us something to look forward to. Terry, may you rest in peace.

She is survived by four sisters: Fran Kellogg (Leonard) of Columbia, MO; Carolyn Martin of Garland, TX; Rebecca Martin of Kansas City, MO; and Lori Broyles (Sonny) of Sedalia, MO. She also has several nieces and nephews: Doug Martin (Katie) of Galloway, OH; Sydney Kellogg of Columbia, MO; Macy Broyles of Sedalia, MO; and Brandon Kellogg (Kathy) with their children, Indy and Ollie, of San Diego, CA.

A graveside service and interment will be held at a later date at St. Martin's Cemetery, Pilot Grove, MO.

Terry was extremely interested in Retrieving Freedom, an organization that trains labs and golden retrievers as service dogs for disabled veterans and autistic children. Memorial contributions may be made to Retrieving Freedom through their website: <https://www.retrievingfreedom.org/>.

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