Martha Ann Hood Hill passed away on October 27, 2024.  She was born on January 26, 1930 to John Elmer Hood and Geneva Hood.  Two years later she was joined by a baby brother, Billy, aka Dr. John William Hood.

The Hoods were early settlers of the "new" area of Nichols Hills in Oklahoma City.  In fact, Billy was the first baby born to a family living in Nichols Hills.  John Elmer Hood agreed to build their house there subject to the promise that Nichols Hills would have its own elementary school.  Martha Ann's mother Geneva taught at Nichols Hills Elementary and both Martha Ann and Billy were students there.

Martha Ann attended Classen High School in Oklahoma City where she excelled academically and was also a member of high school sororities "BVG" and "Happy Hearts."  She served as the Sergeant-in-Arms for the Happy Hearts, and she's been keeping us all in order since then.

Upon graduating from high school Martha Ann packed her bag and boarded a train bound for Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.  She studied there for a year and then rode the train back to Oklahoma to finish her degree at the University of Oklahoma.  She said she fell asleep on the train and woke up to the red dirt of Oklahoma and knew she was home.

At OU Martha Ann joined Delta Delta Delta sorority and studied education. One night at The Mont restaurant in Norman she caught the eye of the darling and dashing Gene Hill, who never let her out of his sight again. They married in 1952, relocating to Gene's home town of Ardmore Oklahoma.

Martha Ann put her education degree to work, teaching in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and in Ardmore at Lincoln and Franklin Elementary schools (1st, 2nd and 6th grades).  Martha Ann and Gene had three children:  Steve, Julie and Laura.  In 1964 they moved into a house on the cul-de-sac on Virginia Lane where Martha Ann and Gene would live out the rest of their lives together.  They were married for 70 years, until Gene Hill passed away on May 5, 2022.

Martha Ann and Gene lived a full and fun life, with adventures, laughter and fun, but also with hard work and contributions to their community.  In the early 1970s, with three children, Martha Ann went back to college, driving 90 miles each way three days a week, to get her masters in education/reading, studying the relatively new area of learning with dyslexia.  With her new degree she tutored many children in Ardmore, opening up the previously closed world of reading for those children.

She helped Gene build a car business that existed for 63 years. She participated in or volunteered with many philanthropic or social organizations, including the Ladies of the Leaf (President), the Ivy Garden Club (President), the Holly Garden Club, Stock Club, the First Methodist Church (and its Cude Clothes Closet), the March of Dimes, and Mercy Hospital.  In addition to work and service, Martha Ann and Gene were energetic and curious travelers, and visited England, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Bulgaria, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Bali, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Romania, Canada, Slovenia, Croatia, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Mexico. Many trips were with dear friends (and brother and sister-in-law) Dr. Bill and Sue Hood. Martha Ann indulged Gene's love of horseracing, visiting many interesting racetracks in the United States and in Paris, Hong Kong, London, Bangkok and Canada.

Martha Ann was a skilled and passionate gardener, boater and reader.  For many years she read the Daily Ardmoreite, the Dallas Morning News and  the Daily Oklahoman cover to cover every day.  She embroidered, painted and knitted, creating many colorful (albeit misshapen and ill-fitting) sweaters.  She loved games of all types, and played tennis, golf,  Mahjong, board games, and any type of card game.  She was a skilled and savvy Texas Hold 'Em Player, and came in 2nd in a Las Vegas Hold 'Em Tournament on her 80th birthday, winning $8000.  In her later years she could be found every Friday at Dornick Hills playing a heated game of bridge with a lovely group of ladies.

Martha Ann always had a smile on her face and an optimistic outlook.  She was courageous and independent and smart to the very end.

Martha Ann  is preceded in death by her sweet husband Gene, and by her mother and father, Geneva and John E. Hood,  her beloved brother Dr. Bill Hood and sister-in-law Sue Hood, as well as many dear friends. She is survived by her son Steve Hill and partner Judy Sutherland of Norman, daughter Julie Jordan and partner Chuck Bachman of Ardmore, and daughter Laura Hill Peraino and husband Vito Peraino, of Mason, Ohio; grandchildren Mindy Leary of Black Hawk, Colorado, Hannah Hill and wife Madeline Sandt of Salt Lake City, Geneva Hill of Tulsa, Dominick Peraino of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Rosie Peraino Little and husband Cameron Little of Columbus, Ohio; and great-grandchildren Ezra and Evelyn Leary of Black Hawk, Colorado. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Andy Hood and wife Elaine, Henry Hood and wife Laura, Michael Hood and wife Sylvia, Tetene Hood Meltzner and husband Steve.  The family also includes as a survivor dear friend Syble Roring.

The family is very grateful to caregivers Beata Bil and Samantha Willis who served Martha Ann with love and kindness, and became honorary family members. The family also acknowledges the compassionate end of life care provided by Cross Timbers Hospice.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m. at the First Methodist Church of Ardmore. Visitation will be on Friday, November 8 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Craddock Funeral Home.

Donations in Martha Ann's  honor may be made to the Ardmore Public Library, the First Methodist Church of Ardmore, Ardmore Little Theatre, or the Goddard Arts Center.