Mary Martin - City Greenwood Cemetery - Weatherford, TX - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Martin's grave is not far from those of other famous Texans, including cattleman Oliver Loving, Texas Governor S.W.T. Lanham, Medal of Honor recipient Chester Bowen, and former slave-turned-cattleman, Bose Ikard. There is a Weatherford school named for her, as well as a statue of her as Peter Pan in front of the Weatherford Public Library (visit link) .

Description: Mary Martin, a star of stage, film, and television was born as Maria Virginia Martin in Weatherford, TX. As a child, she was encouraged to perform, even taking voice lessons. A marriage to Benjamin Hagman interrupted her schooling, and their son, Larry -- yes, that Larry Hagman -- was born in Weatherford in 1931. Mary eventually opened a dance school before divorcing Hagman in 1935, but later left Weatherford to attempt a performing career as "Mary Martin." Her breakthrough was a role in Cole Porter's production, "Leave It To Me," and Martin's rendition of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" endeared her to Broadway audiences. Beginning in 1939, Martin appeared in ten films over three years, also doing radio work for CBS and NBC. At Paramount, Martin met Richard Halliday, an editor and producer, and they married on May 5, 1940. They had one daughter. Martin continued her theater career in 1943, later touring with "Annie Get Your Gun," before settling into "South Pacific" in 1949. She not only suggested material for songs in the show, but also helped develop the choreography. In 1951 she moved to London for a two-year run of "South Pacific," later dividing her time between stage and television performances based on her stage roles. She also took the ever-youthful character of Peter Pan, in the play of the same name, from a brief Broadway run to repeated NBC presentations. This was probably Martin's signature role -- her favorite -- and she won Tony Awards for performances in "Peter Pan" and later, "The Sound of Music." She continued in the 60s with successful touring roles. Martin's stage career slowed during the 1970s, and Richard Halliday died in 1973. Mary returned to Broadway in 1978 in "Do You Turn Somersaults?", and in 1981 she hosted a public television series on aging, "Over Easy." After a car accident -- friend Janet Gaynor was injured as well -- she joined Carol Channing in a 1986 touring production of "Legends," portraying an aging actress. Martin's work brought her an award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, as well as two stars (radio and recording) on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On November 3, 1990, she died of cancer at her home in California, and her cremains are interred in Weatherford. Source: Based on a Handbook of Texas Online article about Martin, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fmacg . Date of birth: 12/01/1913 Date of death: 11/03/1990 Area of notoriety: Entertainment Marker Type: Horizontal Marker Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daylight hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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