Martha Leo (Phillott) Arnett

Martha Leo (Philpott) Arnett 97, of Amarillo, TX died Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Graveside service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 31, 2024 at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

Martha was born March 17, 1927, in Cave Springs Arkansas to Ray and Tena Philpott. After their deaths when she was two and five, she and her twin sister were raised by her grandparents Wm T and Martha Downum in Elm Springs. On 12/25/1944 she married Lenvil David Arnett whom she had met and dated in high school. He preceded her in death in 1988.

Growing up with Grandparents in Arkansas she learned the value of raising their food and canning to help provide for her family. Besides having a large garden, she also had beautiful flowers in her yard and house. Martha loved flowers and had them blooming year-round both inside and outside. That is one thing that she missed the most during her stay at Craig Senior Living, all of her house flowers. But she always had a smile for the aids and nurses that worked to care for her and the others in the Senior Center.

In 1962 she settled in Amarillo, TX where they raised their two children. Martha was the office manager for her and her husband’s construction company and they built and ran a storage facility. They also bought 17 rent houses in the 70’s and Martha managed and did repairs on these until she was in her 80’s. Martha loved her family and for years worked on the genealogy of her family, tracing them back to the 12th century. 

She traveled extensively with her husband to Europe the last ten years of their lives together. While raising their children they continuously took them on trips almost every weekend and during the summers. Then when grandkids came along, they took them on trips to the mountains and fishing.

After her husband’s death in 1988 Martha started painting. She painted mostly in oils but did some work in watercolor and pastel. She took classes as far away as Florida and won many awards for her paintings and sold her work at shows and the Amarillo Art Center. When her health started failing, she would still come to the center and help her daughter paint and decorate pottery for the fundraisers at the art center. 

Martha was preceded in death by her husband Lenvil; brother Dane; Sister Cleo; niece Teresa and grandson Matthew.

Survivors include her daughter Deborah Reasoner and husband William, of Amarillo, TX; son, Luke Arnett and wife Kathy, of Dallas, TX. She was "Boppie” to her grandchildren; Martha Vibbard, and husband Larry of Cheyenne, Wy; David Reasoner and wife Regina of Belton, TX; Keith Reasoner and wife Kendra of Murfreesboro, TN; and her six great-grandchildren, Trent, Braelin, Brandon, Rylan, Jennifer and Chris; and three great-great-grandchildren Ammeryn, Bayleigh and Dillon. Martha is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews who all loved her dearly.

They will always remember her smile and laugh. She was a truly, one-of-a-kind mother, grandmother and dear friend.

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