Ramona Rice Martin

Graveside services for Ramona Martin will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 6, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Disabled American Veterans.Ramona Rice Martin was born at home on February 25, 1929 to Coy and Winifred (Tibbits) Rice. She attended Alliance Schools with her two sisters, Rosemary and Ruth. She also enjoyed the closeness of an extended family and friends. Mona married Herbert Martin on February 7, 1953 and they had one son, Scott Rice Martin. Herb worked B&B for the CB&Q railroad and they moved to Custer, South Dakota for his job. During the summertime, Herb, Mona and Scotty lived in a specially-outfitted boxcar that was pulled to various worksites and uncoupled. While working on a trestle, Herb fell and suffered severe injuries, leaving him a paraplegic. As Herb began rehabilitation at the VA Hospital in South Dakota, Mona and Scotty moved to Chadron, Nebraska so that Mona could go to Chadron State College. Scotty attended High School and Mona attended College. She raised her son and graduated, cum laude, with a BA in Education. Mona moved to Gillette, Wyoming in the early 70's and began her teaching career. She taught in the Savageton and Rozet Schools before her retirement. Mona earned the honor of being "Teacher of the Year".She designed her home to be wheelchair accessible and to accommodate Herb's needs. With Herb's encouragement, she spent four years teaching herself the art of tole painting and converted her garage into an art studio. Mona also shared her knowledge and talent by teaching classes in tole painting in her studio. When Herb was diagnosed with brain cancer, Mona brought him home to be with her. Herb passed away on September 8, 1982.She began to "paint up a storm" and found she loved it! Some of the many items she adorned were breadboxes, tables, shelves, dressers, drawers, doors, mailboxes, (duck) decoys, antique trunks, house signs and wall decorations. In 1983, Mona won "Grand Champion" at the County Fair for a tabletop decorated with a country scene that had all of her neighborhood children in it. She found painting therapeutic and relaxing. It kept her alert, active and learning: "I never met a piece of wood I didn't want to paint."She also held a lifelong passion for sewing and various forms of needlework, creating many beautiful pieces, including quilts. She loved giving away her creations to family and friends: "My fun is in the doing, not the keeping". Mona enjoyed working in the garden and loved her furry pets: "My critters give such love and laughsI am blessed."Mona adapted herself, as life demanded. Through each phase of her life, Mona accepted and conquered the challenges presented. "I always knew I could [do it