Martha Isabelle Webb Meyers

Martha Isabelle Webb Meyers

1931 -- 2015

Martha Isabelle Webb Meyers was born in Oakland, California, on January 6, 1931.  Her birth announcement, hand-written by her dad, proclaimed “the latest model specifications” of the new little girl “designed and produced by Irvin and Amanda Webb”, including “bright blue headlamps” and a “20 inch wheelbase”.  Borrowing freely from a Buick ad of the time, the announcement stated “When better babies are built, you’ll be too old to care.”

               Martha attended schools in Vallejo and Napa. As a child she spent time in her parents’ various grocery stores/luncheonettes entertaining patrons (including “Babyface” Nelson when he once passed through Vallejo) and would later reminisce about making deliveries with her dad to some of Napa’s oldest homes.  She was also one of the legions of Napa children who spent summers picking prunes after school and on breaks—long before grapes became Napa’s hallmark crop.  As a young woman, she went to work for the telephone company, at first in Sausalito and then in Napa.  She told of the whole operator crew marching from their old Third Street office to their new location on Clay Street.

               In 1949, Martha met and married the love of her life, Emil Meyers, Jr.  They made their home on Menlo Avenue, and had three children – Emil “Corky”, Christina, and Ronda.  Emil became a general building contractor in 1959, and Martha became his office manager, where she worked for more than 40 years.  She was active in Women in Construction and the Lioness Club.  She also participated in Emil’s many activities, such as the Navy League, Republican Central Committee, and Lions Club.

               Music and baseball were two of Martha’s passions.  Special favorites were Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley, and she was always up for a concert at the Uptown, the City Winery, or Bottlerock.  An avid Giants fan since 1951, Martha tried to catch every game on tv or radio, and traveled to Arizona twice for spring training.  She was also a consummate collector—including her prized, world famous button collection, covering the walls floor to ceiling in her “button room”. Family, friends, and sometimes even strangers were always on the lookout for a new button for Martha.

                Martha loved to travel and toured much of the United States by rail, as well as cruises and trips abroad to Norway and Ireland.  Each year she took all available grandchildren on a summer trip—including a 6-week motorhome trip in 1983 with her daughter and 7 grandkids to South Dakota for a family reunion commemorating her family’s 100th year in the US.  These trips created a lifetime of memories for her grandchildren and (surprisingly) not one medical emergency!  More than anything Martha enjoyed being with her family at home or at Lake Tahoe.

               She fought bravely and cheerfully against a number of serious health issues, but finally succumbed early on Thursday, January 29, surrounded by her family in her home.

               Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Emil in 1993; her parents, half-sister Wanda Westmoreland and half-brother Glen Webb, her niece Dixie Jeanne Herrlinger and brother-in-law Ralph Mantor.  She is survived by her children and their spouses: Corky (Terry) Meyers, Christina (Tom) Conlee, and Ronda Connor, all of Napa;  grandchildren Gabriel (Lisa) Meyers, Zachary Meyers, Mindy (Greg) Harp, Jackie (Scot) Norton; Amanda (Arnie) Salaiz;  Kimberly Menager and Michael “Buddy” Connor, all of Napa, Tom (Jennifer) Conlee, David (Jenny) Conlee, of Portland, Oregon, Aeric Dikeman and Pete (Christy) Dikeman; great-grandchldren Jackson Meyers, Gillian Meyers, Macayla Meyers, Gabriel Harp, Isabelle Harp, Tyler Conlee, Megan Conlee, Levi Conlee, Wyatt Conlee, Olivia Salaiz, Elena Salaiz, Anna Salaiz, Liam Salaiz, Xander Salaiz, Staci (Nick) D’Orazi and Hanna (Pete) Landini; and seven great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law Norma Mantor, of Sparks, Nevada, nephews Mike Mantor, Danny (Tracy)Mantor, Pete Herrlinger and niece Patti (Larry) Carolan;  as well as numerous cousins and good friends Ruth Marsh and William Archer.

               Martha was deeply loved and will be remembered by many generations for her wit (“that’s what she said last night”), her enthusiasm for slot machines, her bonny blue eyes – those “headlamps!”, her glass of house chardonnay, and her encompassing love for her family, which included her very spoiled dog Spencer, which she shared with her granddaughter Kimberly, and ‘Lil’ Kitty, her ornery and doted upon cat.

               Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice of charity.  Some of Martha’s favored charities were the Lions International Eye Foundation, the Salvation Army, the USO, and Pathway Home.  

There will be a viewing at Tulocay Cemetery, 411 Coombsville Road, on Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.   A celebration of her life and internment will be held on Saturday, February 7, at 1:00 p.m., at Tulocay, with reception following.  If attending, please consider wearing blue, Martha’s favorite color (but not Dodger blue!)

 Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family on-line at WWW.TULOCAYCEMETERY.ORG. 

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