Dr. Cora Ann Martin

Dr. Cora Ann Martin was born on September 24, 1926, in Yancey, Texas in a Methodist parsonage. She was the only sister to three younger brothers - George Don, James Neal, Paul Cameron - and considered herself their little mama when she was a girl. She lived through the depression as a child , and through WWII as a young woman, both of which taught her to work hard and care about others. She cherished spending time with her brother’s family and her many nieces and nephews, always making time to spend holidays with them and host summer visits. To their delight, she introduced her nieces and nephews to different cultures, experiences, and foods from around the world. Cora graduated from Neches High School at the age of 16. She ranked #1 of 76 when she received her Diploma in Nursing from Baylor University School of Nursing, and graduated with honors when she received her B.S. in Nursing from T.W.U. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin, with a major in Sociology and did Post Doctoral work through a Summer Fulbright in Singapore, and summer seminars through the University of Southern California. She worked as a cadet nurse at Baylor Hospital in Dallas and as a school nurse for several years in Texas and Alaska. Her career at North Texas University began in 1967 when she assumed the position of Assistant Director for the Center for Studies in Aging at North Texas State. She became director of the Center in the Studies for Aging in 1973 and retired in 1992. She earned the title of Professor Emeritus, which was awarded to her for being exemplary in her field of UNT’s Center for Studies in Aging. Throughout her career at UNT, she organized and led many study tours for Studies in Aging to over 85 places around the world including the countries of Yugoslavia, Sweden, Denmark, China, Japan, Korea, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Finland, Africa, USSR, and Hungary. She was influential in many areas of her field of expertise including creating programs for medical students in gerontology and serving on numerous committees including the White House Conference on Aging. She wrote numerous articles and books that address various social, psychological, and policy aspects of aging. She was also instrumental in the planning stages of Good Samaritan Retirement Home, Denton, where she lived for many years. She married William Eggers on March 16, 1986, and loved being the step-parent to Joan, Mary Ann, and Bill. She has 13 step-grandchildren, 29 step-great-grandchildren, and many step-great great grandchildren. She and William relished traveling together and especially adored visiting England. After her retirement, she continued to travel with her new hobbies- birding and weaving. She enjoyed exploring areas to find new species of birds and would take an annual trip to Shaw Island, Washington, with family and friends for several weeks to enjoy nature and birding. She lived in Denton until 2022 and then she moved to Tyler, TX to be nearer her brother, George and his family. Cora went to be with her Lord on January 2, 2024. Her parents were Cornelia Ada Pos Martin (d.1998) and John Don Martin (d. 1956). Her husband preceded her death in 1993 and her brother, Paul Cameron in 2012. She is survived by her brothers, George Don and James Neal, ten nieces and nephews, 26 great nephews and nieces, and many great great nephews and nieces. She was a generous person who cared about the world and the people in it and who donated extensively to many charities to help feed the poor and to help provide medical help to those who had none. She was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denton, TX. Celebration of life services for Cora will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler. Hospitality room following service. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Athens Cemetery, Mack St., Athens. If desired, donations may be made to Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 1930, Garden Valley, TX 75771 (www.mercyships.org).

Dr. Cora Ann Martin

September 24, 1926 - January 2, 2024