Rose Marceline Ralston

Rose Marceline 'Marty' Ralston was born on Monday, June 2, 1924, in Ottawa, Kansas. She was the daughter of Emile J. and Clara (Shawver) Barnes. A lifelong resident, except for the years between 1951 and 1957, when she and her family moved several times with Jim's work in construction, Marty made her home in Ottawa, in Franklin County, Kansas, until her death Monday, October 10, 2005, at the age of eighty-one years. She graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1942. Marty worked as secretary for the First United Methodist Church for several years, Bingo Dog Food, and as office manager for a local doctors' office from January of 1965 until 1973, when they purchased The Maple Shoppe and started making custom drapes. After selling The Maple Shoppe, she continued making drapes out of her home, retiring in 1988. She was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church, Ottawa, Oxford Service Forum Sunday School Class, and the Dorcas Circle of the United Methodist Women. She was a life member of the Ottawa Promenaders Square Dance Club and member of the Pioneer Plus Square Dance Club. Marty was known to be an outgoing, sincere, caring, and fun-loving person. She enjoyed traveling, camping, boating, and fishing. For several years, she and Jim enjoyed spending their winters in Arizona. She also enjoyed gardening, sewing, square dancing, and playing cards with her friends. She was self taught on the piano and keyboard and had so much fun playing with the campground band in Arizona. On June 29, 1942, Marty was united in marriage with James Evans