Martha Mildred Hite

Martha Mildred Davison Hite was born in Halfway, Missouri on October 30, 1917 and passed away at the age of 91 on Sunday, November 23, 2008. Her last weeks were spent at her daughter Dana's home under her loving care. The daughter of John and Molly Davison, Martha grew up and graduated from high school in Halfway, Missouri. After a short period of teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, she married her sweetheart of 7 years, Berkley Hite on June 30, 1940. For fourteen years Berkley and Martha traveled between California and Missouri while Berkley served in World War II and had several businesses, including the used car and real estate businesses. They then settled in Bolivar where they bought the MFA Oil Agency, which eventually grew into Hite Oil and Quality Oil Companies, and started a family of two daughters--Dana Joy and Myrna Loy. Martha was the bookkeeper for Hite and Quality Oil Companies, and also an avid homemaker. She loved sewing, quilting, crocheting, gardening, and growing many kinds of flowers. In fact, her girls said she was happy as long as she was playing in the dirt in some way. She loved traveling, and enjoyed trips to Europe, the Holy Land, Australia, Mexico, Honduras, and Alaska, as well as trips to Cabo San Lucas and Jamaica with her girls the last two years of her life. She was an active member of the First Assembly Of God Church in Bolivar, where she played the piano and organ for 40 years, taught Sunday school for over 60 years, and went on missions trips until she was 80 and could no longer physically make the trips. She worked hard on these mission trips, including painting schoolrooms on her last trip and encouraging the other, younger travelers to get busy and help! Service was a way of life for her. She enjoyed sewing for missions with the Women's Ministries of her church, as well as cooking and serving thousands of dinners for families in need. She "adopted" two young women who lived with her during their college years. Martha also visited, played the piano, and sang for the residents of the CMHCF Nursing Home every Friday for at least 10 years of her life. Preceding her in death were her husband of 46 years-Berkley; a beloved granddaughter-Chelsea Walker; her parents; and 9 of 11 siblings-Glen, Fred, Bessie, Opal, Paul, Silas, Clifford, Mary, and John. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands-Dana and Dan Rocha, and Myrna and Greg Walker, all of Bolivar; her grandchildren-Phil Rocha of Chicago; and Julie Rocha, Autumn and Dustin Walker, all of Bolivar; a great-grandchild-Ella Marie Rocha; one sister and her husband-Dorothy and Lois Hayter of Eudora; several nieces and nephews; and many, many friends. She will be sadly missed as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, mentor, prayer warrior, role model, teacher, and beloved friend. A celebration of her life will be held Wednesday, November 26 at 10:00am at the First Assembly of God Church under the direction of the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar with the Rev. Gary Ankrom, Rev. Ken Robinson, and Rev. Dan Rocha officiating. Special music will be "No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus" by Jackie Hitchcock and Malinda Batten with Greg Ankrom playing the piano, "Beulahland" by Dan Hitchcock, "Mama's Teaching Angels How To Sing", "Serenaded By Angels" by Randy Matheny, and "Marvelous Light" by Justen McCarter. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Bolivar. Pallbearers will be David Cribbs, James Batten, Greg Ankrom, Theo Condren, Ralph Buckner and Dean Griggs. Visitation will be from 5-7pm, Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at the First Assembly of God Church in Bolivar. In lieu of flowers, and to honor her dedication to Christian Education, the family respectfully suggests contributions be made to Polk County Christian School, P.O. Box 303, Bolivar, Missouri 65613 Friends and family may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Martha Mildred Hite

October 30, 1917 - November 23, 2008