Martha Jane Buchanan Bitner, 80, passed away this Monday, September 2, 2013 in Fredericksburg, Texas.
She was born on February 2, 1933 in Liberty, Texas, where she resided for many years. She graduated from Liberty High School and attended Lon Morris Junior College and Lamar University, from which she obtained a Bachelors degree in Education. She taught Language Arts in Liberty and, later, in Conroe, and is remembered affectionately by many generations of her students. In the late 1980s she retired to Kerrville, Texas, where she met her husband, Jimmy Bitner. They were married in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in 1996. Despite initial misgivings about adopting the Green Acres lifestyle, she happily adjusted to life in the country.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Emma and Edgar Buchanan; brothers E.B Buchanan and R.A. Bucky Buchanan; and sisters-in-law Jackie Buchanan and Katherine Buchanan.
She is survived by her husband, Jimmy; children, James Matthew Williamson and wife Lauri of Katy, and Ann Elizabeth Welder and husband Patrick of Boerne; grandchildren, Corbin Matthew Williamson and wife Ashley, Heather Lauri Lane and husband Trevor, Travis Matthew Williamson, and Elisa Ann Welder; brother Jamie Buchanan and wife Denie; sister-in-law Betty Buchanan; step-children Shelly Hanke and husband Lloyd, and David Bitner and wife Connie; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Martha was a lifelong Anglophile and fiercely passionate Texan. She was an avid reader and loved gardening, ballet, horseback riding, crossword puzzles, winning at card games, and jewelry of all kinds (especially the sort that comes in robin egg blue boxes). Her sense of humor was boundless, her personality larger than life, and she was beloved by all who met her.
The family will be holding a private memorial service at a later date.
