Marthell Laster's Obituary
Services to honor and remember the life of Marthell (Lewis) Laster or "Marty" as she was affectionately known will take place at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 1, 2025 in the Rivercrest Chapel at Bixby-South Tulsa Funeral Service. Family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. A private family interment at Bixby Cemetery will precede the service on Friday morning.
Marty passed from this life on July 21, 2025. She was 80.
Marthell (Lewis) Laster was born on June 21, 1945, in Ola, Arkansas, to Sherman Freed and Ruby Nell (Boyte) Lewis. While still a child, her family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she grew up and received her education. As a teenager, Marty found excitement and a bit of fame dancing on KOTV's Saturday Dance Party, a local television show that gave her a chance to share her love of music and movement.
Family was the heart of Marty's world. She was a devoted mother, cherished grandmother, and beloved "Aunt Marty" to many beyond her immediate family. She poured her love into raising her two children, Kenneth and Kelly, and was blessed with grandchildren: Katelynd, Kendall, Kenneth III, Garrett, and Abbie RaeLyn. Her greatest joy came with the arrival of her great-grandchildren: Joey, Irelynd, Kenneth, Brave, Finley, and little Miss Drew.
Professionally, Marty found her calling as a food service manager, working for both Bixby and Tulsa Public Schools. Her long tenure left a lasting impression on countless students, many of whom remembered her fondly over the years.
Outside of work, Marty enjoyed life to the fullest. Whether it was dancing, riding Goldwing motorcycles, or playing games like Skip-Bo, Farkle, Bunco, and Spinner Dominoes, she brought energy and laughter wherever she went. She preferred to skip out on charades, though-despite it being a popular family pastime.
Marty was spirited, spunky, and unapologetically honest. She had a stubborn streak and an ornery sense of humor, but she was always the life of the party. Her vibrant personality left a mark on everyone she met.
A woman of faith, Marty remained close to God throughout her life and was active in several churches over the years, although health challenges eventually kept her from attending in person.
She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her sisters, Anna Sue Bell and Wanda Dake.
Marty is survived by her son, Kenneth D. Laster II and his wife, Julia; daughter, Kelly Bates and her husband, Randy; grandchildren: Katelynd Horner (Aaron), Kendall Lowder (Andrew), Kenneth Laster III (Mindy), Garrett Laster (Natalie), and Abbie RaeLyn Deibert (Chase); and great-grandchildren: Joey, Irelynd, Kenneth, Brave, Finley, and Drew. She also leaves behind her former husband and the father of her children, Kenneth Laster (Patricia) along with her sister, Sherdell Abernathy (Willis), and beloved nieces and nephews: LaHonda, Tony, John, and David-along with many others who were proud to call her "Mama," "Grandma," or "Aunt Marty."
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