Martha Louise Rainey, 75, peacefully passed from this life Wednesday, August 16, 2023. She was born August 3, 1948, in Gorman, Texas to WD and Iris Wilkerson Preston. She spent her childhood on Fisher Street in Gorman, surrounded by neighbors who became lifelong friends. She spent many hours playing and eventually working in Preston Floral, the flower shop her parents owned that was attached to their house. As she got older you could find her roaming the streets and visiting the local stores and hangouts. She attended Gorman Schools from 1st grade through 12th grade. During High School she played the trumpet, was the basketball manager for both the boys and girls teams, was a member of FHA and was in the Continental Quartet. After graduation, she attended Draughon's Business School in Abilene, Texas and then moved back to Gorman.

In 1969, she married Doug Rainey and moved to Kansas. In 1971, they returned to Gorman, and she started a career with Birdsong Peanuts. In 1973, Renee' was born and Jill completed the family in 1975. In 1977 she was diagnosed with MS, but from that moment on her motto was "I have MS, MS doesn't have me". In 1984 she left birdsong and started her career in banking at Sunbelt Savings until she retired with Bank of America in 1992. She has been a faithful member of First Baptist Church Gorman her whole life and was baptized there at the age of eight. She was very involved as she was GA / Acteen's teacher director, WOM director, played the piano and organ, directed children's plays, Sunday School teacher and church treasurer. If you were a youth in the 80's and 90's you probably knew Martha Rainey as she was very involved with FBC youth. Her girls tell people that they were there any time the doors were open. She volunteered at the Charlie Garrett Memorial Library, and she was also very involved in the Gorman Sr. Citizens. In 1993, she moved back to Fisher Street to the Gorman Hotel where she was a chairman for the Gorman Housing Authority and resided for over 20 years. If you knew her you knew she was a diehard Texas Rangers fan. She enjoyed many sports including Tennis which drove her daughter crazy to have to watch when visiting. Despite her MS diagnosis, she lived a very happy and prosperous life. In November 2008 the wonderful community of Gorman rallied together to raise the money needed for her to go to Costa Rica for Stem Cell Replacement Therapy. We truly believe God had a hand in this and was the reason she was with us for many more years. In 2016, she moved into De Leon Nursing and Rehab where she spent her days meeting and making friends, crafting, playing cards, and working on puzzles.

Martha is survived by her older brother, Ryan Preston and Jane of Burleson; her daughters, Renee' Early of De Leon and Jill Hudson and Clayton of De Leon; grandkids, Katie Winkles and Tanner, Cassidy Early, Mikayla Early, Ethan Torres, Riggin Hudson, Zach Hudson and Meagan; great-grandbabies, Tilly and Tye Hudson; numerous sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; cousins; and friends who are considered family. She is preceded in death by her parents, several aunts and uncles; and a precious great grand baby Winkles.

Funeral services celebrating Martha's life were held Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Gorman First Baptist Church with Brother Barry Schahn and Brother Toy Holt officiating. Serving as pallbearers were Jeff Seaton, Jeff Smith, John Carter, Brian Lasater, Ronson Childers, Stephen Scitern and Neely Carter. Honorary pallbearers were Tommy Clark, Glen Clements, Carroll Gentzel and Daryl Hirst. A private family graveside committal was held in De Leon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Gorman VFD or to Gorman First Baptist Church in memory of Martha.