Martha Ellen (Pole) O'Connor

Martha Ellen O’Connor, 29 (with 54 years experience), of Paisley, Oregon, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, on May 14, 2023.

Martha was born February 28, 1940, in Honobia, Oklahoma to David Marshall Pole and Ola May Galloway Pole. She was the 5th of 7 children.

At age 12, the family moved to Oregon. Growing up with 2 older brothers, Martha learned how to work hard and have pride in her work, and she carried that work ethic through her entire life.

After high school, Martha married David Roy Cannon, from Alturas, CA, and was blessed with 3 beautiful daughters. They moved to Southern California then to Northern California, before settling in Lakeview, Oregon. After David’s death, she dated and married Donald (Tim) O’Connor and was whisked away to Montana. Later on, they made their way back to Oregon and lived in Valley Falls. Eventually, they found permanent roots in Paisley, where they raised 2 of their grandchildren, Lindsey and David. They had found their church and community.

Throughout her adult life, she kept busy. From working in a boutique to planting trees for the Forest Service, doing yard work, cleaning her church, and volunteering at school. She took pride in all she did.

Martha was a beautiful person, inside and out. She would give the shirt off her back and bend over backward to help when she possibly could. She was very active in her church and enjoyed teaching Sunday school. Bible study was a must. She was also very active in her community. In her later years, she even went on a mission trip to Slovakia with her granddaughter, Lindsey, and hosted foreign exchange students. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and tried her best to be there for the births.  She always encouraged summer trips to Grammy’s and to the river to play. Water guns were filled and ready to soak the kids as soon as they stepped into the yard.

She would always say she was not artistic, but she was one of the most creative women around. She would craft everything under the sun-woodwork, sewing, painting, and anything with a hot glue gun involved. She was the queen of Montana Rummy and had a competitive nature, which she passed on to her daughters, and then on to her grandchildren.

Martha lived her life for her Savior, Jesus Christ. You could see it every time you talked to her and see it in her eyes, how much she loved God. She was always the first to offer prayer for any and all situations. Her bible was never far from her side.

Martha is survived by: her husband, Tim; daughters, Sherry Cleland (Adel, OR), Tammie Cannon Ellifritz (Lakeview, OR), and Janet Jones (Dillon, MT); sisters: Sandy Hoffman (Lakeview, OR) and Sheila Ussery (Lakeview, OR); seven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Ola May; brothers: David Marshall Pole Jr & John Emery Pole; sisters: Mary Margaret Robey & Iris Ruth Hale and  1 great-grandson, Trevor Beeson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Refuge Church of Paisley, 38344 Hwy 31 Paisley, OR 97636.

A memorial will be held at the Refuge Church in Paisley, OR on May 30th at 11 am, with a  Potluck to follow at the Paisley Community Center.

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