early mentor

Thirty five years ago when I started in the banking business Martha was one of my mentors. This was long before "mentoring" was a buzz word or the thing to do. We didn't always agree but she was patient with a know-it-all 19 year old and taught me a great deal about business.

I have quoted her often in my 35 years of banking. One of my favorite pieces of advice she gave me was an explanation of which customers walking through the door of the bank were important. She always said the guy coming in in a business suit with his shoes shined looking like money could wait a few minutes... he was there for a loan. The guy in his overall and boots with cow shit on his boots took priority. He doesn't wait, get up and and help him immediately... he is there to make a deposit and probably a large deposit. Over the years this has been proven true to me numerous times.

Not often in life does a person have the opportunity to be taught by a dedicated, passionate professional like Martha. That dedications is what too many business are missing today.

Martha was also passionate about her husband Kenneth. In her eyes Kenneth could do no wrong and he was a priority in her life every day.

Martha Donley

STERLING - Martha Donley, 81, died Feb. 1, 2008, in the Sterling Presbyterian Manor, Sterling.

She was born Feb. 22, 1926, in Sterling, Okla. the daughter of David Henry and Myrtle Mae Hayes Woods. She attended Sterling schools and graduated from Sterling High School. She went to work as a secretary at the Fort Sill Army Base in Lawton. In 1959, she went to work for Woodward Savings and Loan as a bookkeeper, later as a cashier, and retired as vice president in 1989. In 2005, she moved to Rice County.

She was a member of the First Christian Church of Woodward, Okla.

On Dec. 26, 1944, she married Kenneth Dean Donley in Higgins, Texas. He died Dec. 19, 1982.

Survivors include: two sons, Larry Donley, Sterling, Terry Donley, Russellville, Ark.; a brother, Jack Woods, Dodge City; a sister, Joyce McDonald, Elk City; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janice Mae.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Christian Church in Woodward with the Rev. Chuck Shorow presiding. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery with the Billings Funeral Home, Woodward, Okla. in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be sent to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Parkinson Division, in care of the funeral home.

(Hutchinson News, February 5, 2008)