Martha Edna Lee Drollinger

Martha Edna Lee Higgins Drollinger was born on the Fourth of July in 1917 in a town so small it cannot be found on a modern map. Ross, Wyoming was in Converse County near Douglas, Wyoming and where Martha spent most of her childhood. I know that my mother had poor eyesight from an early age, which held her back in school until the family could afford glasses for her, yet she graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper just one year late, with her sister Mary.

Martha's early school years were in a one room school with siblings and children from just a few other families, including her future husband Merrill Roe Drollinger, and his siblings. When time came for the higher grades, high school at least, Martha became a live in nanny and housekeeper for room, board and a pitence for school supplies, etc. While in school Martha learned to type and supported herself for several years as a secretary. During WWII she became a Marine Corps Reserve, something I did not know until after her death.

After WWII she became reacquainted with her brother-in-law, Merrill, (although her sister Mary was divorced from Merrill's brother Gerald) now divorced and with 3 children to care for. Martha had learned to dislike alcohol in her youth and she knew Merrill to partake on occassion, so when he asked her to marry him the first time; her reply was, "Not until you quit drinking." They continued to see each other, and a year later he asked her again. Again she answered, "Not until you quit drinking." But this time his answer was, "I haven't had a drink since the last time you said that." And wedding plans were begun forthwith.

Martha and Merrill were very much in love; this is but one sign. I saw my Dad take 2 drinks in my whole life, to be polite to friends who offered, and he didn't finish either of them. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary in April of 1999.

In 1999 Martha was already showing signs of dementia, which deteriorated rapidly over the next three years. Many saw her as suffering, but I don't know. Martha had the most honest sense of humor of her life at that time, and I saw her laughing joyously while standing on a broken hip. She kept forgetting it was broken and getting out of bed. If she could forget about the pain and truly enjoy a good laugh, was she really suffering? I think it was we who suffered and that gives me comfort.

(Written by Danny, her oldest birth son on March 31, 2013)