On December 2, 2024, our sweet Martha entered her heavenly home. Martha Wanell Briscoe was born September 30, 1941, in Alexandria, Virginia, to Leona Stewart and William Briscoe, whom she lost at a young age. She was raised by her stepdad, Clint McVickor.

In 1944, Martha and her family relocated to McCloud, Oklahoma, which was home until she graduated from high school in 1959. Graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1963, she earned an elementary education degree. Her first teaching job was in Longmont, Colorado, as a kindergarten teacher, where she taught for three years. Martha had fond memories of her time in Colorado teaching her first classes of children, traveling with great friends, skiing in the mountains, and driving her convertible around even in the winter!

Martha returned to Oklahoma and married Jim Swope in 1969. They welcomed two sons, Steven and Doug, and Martha found all of her life's joy in being a mother to her boys. After earning a master's degree in childhood development, Martha continued to teach for 41 years in Oklahoma City until her retirement in 2005. She said teaching children made her feel needed and was very fulfilling.

Martha is survived by her son, Steve, daughter-in-law Katie, and three grandchildren: Avery, Eli, and Neve Swope, who all reside in Denver, CO; her son, Doug, who resides in Edmond; her sister, Norma Lewis, and her partner, Nancy Walker of Oklahoma City; her nephew and niece Gordon Lewis and Tracy Cox.

Martha hand-wrote some of her obituary and said: "I would like everyone to know I have lived a long and wonderful life. For many years, I wanted my epitaph to read: Martha was well-loved by friends, family, and students. But my desire now is if you hear my name, you might have a good memory and a small grin, and that would be more than enough, and when I am asked what thought I would want to leave you with, I would say: I hope all who read this are Christian because I will be waiting up there to say 'hi.'"

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1 pm at the Chapel at Crossings Community Church; 14600 Portland Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73134.

In lieu of flowers, you can donate to the purchase of trees that will be donated to Nichols Hills Elementary playground where Martha organized the beautification project and where a butterfly garden was dedicated to her in 2007.

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