Martha Audrey Hiett

Martha Audrey Hiett, a resident of Willow Springs, passed away Saturday evening, October 31, 2020, while at Mercy St. Francis Hospital in Mountain View, MO. She was born on July 19, 1926 to Phillip Antone and Margaret (McGowan) Winkler in Pittsburgh, PA and was 94 years of age.

 

Martha grew up and attended the Catholic schools in Pittsburgh. After graduating from high school, she worked briefly as a secretary before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1948. Even though she was trained to be an airplane mechanic, she was never allowed to “turn a wrench” simply because she was a woman. She also worked as Air Crew. She met her future husband, Charles Oliver Hiett while strapping him into the plane he was learning to fly. It was love at first sight for Charles and they married in 1951. To this union, three children were born. Martha enjoyed being a homemaker and raising their children. At one time she was head of the Air Force Officer’s wives’ Club while married to a Marine. She volunteered as a Gray Lady in Hawaii while her husband was in Vietnam. She also worked for Page Airways, AAA, and Landmark Bank (Fla). The family moved to the Bahamas and managed a hotel in Nassau before returning to the U.S. Martha loved to work crossword puzzles in her free time, but most of all she loved to travel. She will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.

 

Martha is preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, a brother, and a nephew.

 

She is survived by her husband Charles; her daughter, Margaret Hiett of Willow Springs; her son, James Hiett and his wife, Jayline of Branson; and her son, Charles Hiett, Jr. and his wife, Cynthia of Willow Springs. She is further survived by her grandchildren: Jason Hiett, Janna David, Jennifer Koger, Martha MacPhee, Lynne Kelly, and Charles Hiett, III; three great-grandchildren: Purity Lee, Kylie McKinster, Jayden Kelly, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Willow Springs with Father Sherman Wall officiating. Interment will follow at the Willow Springs City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home, LLC. Online condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com