Martha Starrett

Martha Starrett, 83, formerly of Daingerfield was born on June 10, 1941 in Texarkana, AR to James and Martha Watson. She passed away on Thursday morning, October 17, 2024 in a Jacksonville nursing facility. Martha grew up in Naples where she was a member of the First Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Twentieth Century Club and the Order of the Eastern Star. She met Joe Starrett while she was working as a dispatcher at the sheriff's office and he was a deputy. He would later become sheriff and then they married. They lived in the old jailhouse. It was the wife’s responsibility to cook for the prisoners. That continued on after the new courthouse was built which included the living quarters for the sheriff's family. The prisoners ate off the same plates that we ate from. Martha also worked at the sewing factory that was next door. She later become a hairdresser and opened Starrett’s Beauty Shop. After a few years she became a rural mail carrier and most everyone will remember her as the mail lady that spoiled all the dogs on her mail route. Martha had a love for many things. She loved flowers and gardening, but she had a special place in her heart for animals, especially horses. She was an avid barrel racer and loved rodeos. Martha knew her way around the kitchen as well and was known to cook a delicious chicken fried steak. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe Olin Starrett; and step-sister, Robin Coleman. She is survived by one daughter, Danna Nelson and husband Brent of Jacksonville; two grandchildren, Seth Nelson and Sydney Nelson; and niece Wanda Miller and husband Mike of Longview. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 11:30 AM, Thursday, October 24, 2024 at Horn-Nail-Haggard Funeral Home of Daingerfield, followed by a celebration of her life at 1:00 PM. Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Mrs. Starrett to: East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance, 3122 Nealy Way, Suite 203, Longview, Texas 75605. The family would like to extend a special heart-felt thank you to Donna Williams for her dedicated love and care of Mrs. Starrett.