Martha Dunlap Becker

MARTHA DUNLAP BECKER Memorial Mass for Cortez resident Martha Dunlap Becker will be held on Friday, September 2 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. A wake will be held on Thursday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. with a reception to follow, also at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Please join Martha's family following the wake at a non-denominational reception to celebrate her wonderful life. Martha passed away the afternoon of Monday, August 29, 2011 at Southwest Memorial Hospital. She is survived by her husband, Robert H. Becker; her children, Michael (and Kris) Becker, Catherine (and Thomas) Kane, Susan Becker (and Gino Passalacqua), Marian (and Bryan) Toy, Paul (and Kim) Becker, Andrew Becker, and Stephen Becker; her brothers, Thomas Dunlap (and Susan Miller), and David (and Carol) Dunlap; and her 10 beautiful grandchildren, Hannah, Christopher, Ethan, Peter, Kendra, Katie, Grant, Mia, Kyle, and Amelia. Martha was born in Appleton, Wis. on June 25, 1942 to Isaac and Florence (Rhinehalt) Dunlap. She and her family spent most of her younger years in Cranbury, N.J. and her high school years in Randolph, N.H. Growing up she was an active member of the 4H club. She won many awards for her cooking through her involvement in 4H. She attended Lawrence University in Appleton where she met Bob. They were married on June 22, 1963 in Hightstown, N.J. Martha and Bob raised their children in Fairview, Pa. where they were both very active members of Holy Cross Parish. In addition to raising seven children Martha also worked as a director of religious education for Holy Cross and later for St. Marks Church in Lawrence Park, Pa. When Martha and Bob retired they became even more active. They joined Mercy Volunteer Corps and went to live and work on the Navajo Reservation at St. Michael Indian School in St. Michaels, Ariz. for six years. Martha and Bob eventually retired from that and moved to Cortez. Martha was very active in Cortez. She was a member of the Dolores Mountain Quilters, the Cortez Armchair Quilters, and the Senior Center Friday Afternoon Bridge Group. She volunteered at St. Margaret Mary Church and contributed greatly to their adult religious education program. Martha had a deep appreciation and interest in Native American history and culture. She gave much of her time to the Cortez Cultural Center and the Anasazi Heritage Center. She touched many lives and we were blessed to have known her. In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be made to, The Cortez Cultural Center, 25 North Market Street, Cortez, CO 81321 (970)565-1151, cortezculturalcenter.org, or to The Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323,(970)882-4811, blm.gov or The Bridge Emergency Shelter, PO Box 56, Cortez, CO 81321 (970)565-9808, http://www.thebridgeshelter.org.