Martha Ellen Lyerly

Our dear Martha Ellen Nees Lyerly was born May 6, 1940 in Charleston, West Virginia. She left this earth November 30, 2020. Her life began with her birth mother, Fern Townsend. She was adopted by her parents Truth Custer Nees and William E. Nees who moved to Indianapolis with their new baby shortly after her birth.

Martha grew up in a loving home in Indianapolis. From the beginning, she loved God’s world of nature. From chasing chickens at her Aunt and Uncle Turnipseed’s farm as a child to studying horticulture at Purdue University. Martha began her study of horticulture after she had already earned an undergraduate and masters degree at Purdue.

Her life at Purdue was enriched when she joined Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Her sorority sisters have been loyal friends throughout her life. Martha met and married James Lyerly after graduating from Purdue. Although the marriage did not work, they cared deeply for each other.

Martha loved nature in any form. Nothing was too small or insignificant for her to notice and treat gently from insects, to flowers, to people. She always had a wonderful flower garden at her home. She also served on the Cleg Memorial Garden Board in Lafayette. Martha not only went to school in Lafayette, IN, but also lived there. She taught English Literature for years at Harrison High School in Lafayette. She retired from teaching in 1999. Martha had a generous and caring heart. She loved music and could play any song she heard beautifully on the piano. She also sang in many choirs throughout her school years. She was artistic and loved to collect art and paint with acrylics. Collecting all kinds of nature material was a delight to her. Martha’s love of nature also included dogs and cats. She was never without one or two cats as long as she could care for them. She was a lover of adventure. She spent every summer during her high school years at Stonycroft Camp in Michigan as a counselor. Sailing, boating, hiking, and swimming were always favorites in her life. Trips to Africa and England were cherished experiences. She saw most of the United States and even did a horse mountain camp in the west one summer. Now Martha is with God, and she is no longer in pain. She is starting a new and joyous life.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Martha’s honor, may do so using the link below. This organization takes care of Cleg Memorial Gardens in Tippecanoe County. Martha was close friends with Ruth and Harold Cleg, the couple who gave the land for Cleg Memorial Gardens.