A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
OF
BETTY KENNER MARTINO
I was born on May 18, 1941 to Elizabeth and chief C.M. Kenner, the Lord began to bless me by allowing my family to live smack dab in the foothills of the Appalachians in a small Tennessee town called Kingsport. It was an age of innocence, safety, and a sanctuary environment. I graduated from Dobyns Bennett High School and went on to Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, TN, graduating with a BS in Elementary Education in 1963.
I always had a hard time with recognizing a little “nudge” from the Lord – so when I got one, it took me a little time , and making the decision to move to the Florida Space Coast was – I thought- my “cool” idea. This one ended up changing my life forever. I was teaching school and one of my sixth graders fixed me up on a blind date. This date turned out to be my husband Joe and his huge, big Italian family. They took me under their wing by having me over for delicious pasta dinners and even invited me to their church. The very best blessing was – I not only married a wonderful man for 52 years, but I became a “sister.” Wow, I had been an only child growing up and having sisters was the very best. The Lord knows how to exactly give you the desires of your heart with the very best.
Joe and I moved back to Kingsport to start a new business in the retail motorcycle sales and service. I taught another couple years and we started our family. Over the next few years, we had two great boys, Clifton Mitchell and Joseph III; and we bought an old farm In Colonial Heights area with some acreage. Lots of animals, kids, and old barns with all kinds of wonderful smells and great hiding places.
The Eighties came along and our imaginations wandered to the whimsical. My boys were riding a local bicycle motocross track and Joe decided he could build a better “mousetrap.” All my children had to say was let’s do something different and better and the Martino’s were off to the races. Within two years, Cylecraft Manufacturing was thriving and making a name for itself in most of the world. We took Second place in the World in the 1989 Australian World Championships. I served on the National Bicycle League’s Governing body for six years and had the privilege of escorting the team to Australia. Most of the reason, we began that whole adventure as a family was to spend a lot of time with our boys on the road, so when they graduated from high school, we sold the business and settled down on the farm.
Nudges began again and the Lord was telling us we were ready for a different direction. Early on in our marriage, we had taken classes in becoming a foster family. We made the decision to share our lives with children needing a home. I think the idea came from the fact my Dad had recently passed away and in his very early years, he needed someone to care for him. We spoke with Children’s Services and were quickly put on the radar. A family of three little boys came calling and beds were quickly set up to give these babies a home. They were aged 3 years,18months, and 6 months old. I was 52 years old and still used hair color. Stories about those first years would fill a book. The Lord laughed with us. Eight years went by and another child came to live with us after being chosen as a court appointed legal guardian. Now there were six and I was the big 60. Mitch and Josh got married during this time to wonderful girls and Joe decided he had better work a little longer.
Get prepared, because I am getting ready to put the cherry on the sundae. The Lord took me up and told me, “Now, it’s your turn to do something.” My family of sisters had begun attending a small United Methodist Church just two miles or so from my house. I already knew a lot of people who went there since I was a local dweller for 45 years. They invited me to sing with them for the Christmas Musical. I accepted and never left. I ended up leading music and serving as Choir Director 11 years. I just recently resigned due to illness. My church family are some of the best folks God ever placed on this earth and they love me as much as I love them.
Joe and I hand built a cabin on this hillside three years ago and I am truly a happy woman here among our animals and my darling man. He gave me a wooden plaque our first Christmas which hangs over our entry door today. It reads – “FOR BETTY”.
Husband – Joseph Martino, Jr.
Children – Clifton Mitchell and Melanie Richards Martino & daughter Morgan Suzanne
Joseph III and Dawn Adams Martino & Children; Sadie Elizabeth, Samuel Luke, Ellie Rosalina, & Joseph IV
James Daniel Martino, Christian Michael Martino and William Alexander Martino
Sisters – Cami and Phil Streuter, Ruthann and Robert Saunders, Sandi Stallings and Joan Wellman (my Dido in Heaven)
Foster Children – Dale Messer & Chelsea Martino
Instructions for CELEBRATION
PLEASE WEAR BRIGHT CLOTHING, NO FLOWERS. IF A CELEBRATORY DONATION SEEMS APPROPRIATE, PLEASE GIVE ONE TO THE KENDRICKS CREEK UMC BUILDING FUND. NO SAD STORIES – WE ALL DID MANY THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE FOR A GOOD LAUGH.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – REMEMBER THAT WHEN I BECAME ABSENT FROM THE BODY, I WAS ALREADY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, HALLELUJAH!!!!!!
A Life Celebration will be held on Saturday December 31 at Kendricks Creek United Methodist (1000 Kendrick Creek Rd, Kingsport, TN 37663) from 1pm to 3pm. Friends and family are invited to call upon the home for visitation Thursday or Friday afternoon.
Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home (423-723-8177) is honored to be serving the family.
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