Martha Katherine Culp

Martha Katherine Culp (Tepera)
October 17, 2013
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, wife, and sister at age 62.
Martha Culp was born April 16, 1951, the sixth child of the Mary (Sherek) and Louis Tepera, Sr. family of Rogers, TX during a time that her dad was still hoping for another boy to help him on the farm (he didn’t get it).
Martha married Ronnie Culp of Temple on June 2, 1973. They settled in Temple and welcomed their daughter, Deanna, on April 29, 1977 (46 months in case you were counting).
Martha was passionate about her hobbies and there was nothing, it seemed, she could not master. Bowling consumed the years of 1974-2005 where she gained a group of close friends with whom she pursued this hobby. It is among these she found her “second” mother in Adele Cook and husband Kelly. She and Ronnie enjoyed traveling (often with Kelly and Adele) and every year they went to the National Bowling Tournament, in what seemed to be the longest way possible. During all of her travels, she achieved a life goal of traveling to all 48 states in the continental US, driving every mile herself. She had big plans to also go to Alaska and Hawaii eventually, but she was waiting for them to build a bridge! Later, Martha enjoyed traveling with her sisters, and took many trips to Louisiana for gambling excursions. She could sit for hours at those poker machines , but it always seemed that Ronnie had all the luck! Her favorite trip she has taken was the most recent trip to Branson, where she had the best time!
Martha enjoyed entertaining friends and family. Her Super Bowl parties were legendary, as were the parties she chaperoned for Deanna and her young friends as they were growing up. “What happened at Martha’s, stayed at Martha’s.” Martha was known to be the chauffeur for Deanna and all of her friends, and would do anything for any of them, treating them all as her own.
Martha was a master of sewing, knitting, needlework, and cooking. She was an avid book reader (a trait she inherited from her mother). She was an excellent cook, a family legend and will be remembered mostly for her pies (and crust), strudel, and banana pudding. She was a master at cake decorating and some of her cakes can be seen on Facebook at http://tiny.cc/pzb74w Unfortunately, she didn’t pass any of these amazing home-making skills to her daughter, though not for lack of trying.
Martha’s pride and joy was her daughter Deanna Lynn Culp Carter. Deanna was the light of her life and in turn, Martha was an inspiration for Deanna and a source of strength. Deanna has two sons, Dawsen and Jaysen Carter, who will greatly miss Nana. She was so proud of all their achievements and if she could have, she would have wanted to stay around to see them grow up to be the fine young men she knew they will be.
In case you are wondering if you knew her, Martha graduated from Rogers High School Class of ’69 where she was a dedicated member of the Fightin’ Rogers Eagles Pep Squad. She worked at Baugh’s Shoe Store briefly and luckily since that is where she met the love of her life, Ronnie. She also worked in the cafeteria of Rogers ISD, St. Mary’s School, and Temple ISD. She is the sister of Louis Tepera, Jr. and wife Gennie of Rogers, Willie Tepera and wife Helen of Temple, Mary Ann Billeck of Rogers, Rosie Craft of Oenaville, Margie Marshall and husband Don of Keller, Dorothy Palmer and husband Ken of Freeport TX, and a score of nieces and nephews. And yes, she was the one in the SUV, normally found zipping in and out of traffic on I35.
Martha was preceded in death by both parents, a grandson Chance Michael Carter, her friend and confidant Adele Cook, and two Outlaws-in-law Billy Billeck of Rogers and Bill Craft of Oenaville, who she is sure to be playing dominoes with as we speak.
Visitation will be held Sunday evening, Oct 20th, from 4-6 pm at Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson Funeral Home 111 S 2nd St, Rosebud, TX. A Rosary will follow.
The funeral is on Monday October 21 at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church 6633 FM 2269 in Marak where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am.

The family wants to thank everyone who have touched her life in any way, and appreciate the flood of love and support during this very difficult time.
Memorial contributions may be made to:
Wegener’s Research, The Vasculitis Foundation, PO Box 28660 Kansas City, MO 64188 or online at: www.vasculitisfoundation.org.
Martha was a selfless, unassuming, incredibly strong woman. She is gone, but will never be forgotten.