Martha Jane Ashford (Mitchell)

“Marty”

Marty was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 9, 1948. The daughter of Sidney Leroy Ashford and Florence Elizabeth Van Canneyt, and grew up in a large family.

She was predeceased by her parents, her Son Marc Strain, and her daughter Nicole Sarrette. She is survived by her son Eric Strain and daughters Donnett Bouge and Natasha Hepworth and nine grandchildren, as well as numerous great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Marty was a hard worker and never did anything halfway. She insisted on doing everything to the best of her abilities and expected everyone else to do the same. She was so energetic that I called her the white tornado as she cleaned everything in the house while wearing one of her beautiful white sweaters.

Her father moved the family west to California and Utah, eventually settling in the town of Duchesne in the Uintah Basin. There she was a teacher in Vacation Bible School for the 1st Baptist Church. According to a granddaughter, “Grandma also played lead in My Fair Lady and sang at the Baptist Church.”

In October 1982, she joined the U. S. Army Reserves and began Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She served twelve years in the military and gained the rank of staff sergeant (E-6). Among her numerous awards were the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal with a bronze clasp and three knots, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Sharpshooter badge, and many more.

On February 11, 1989, she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she was a faithful member and a friend to all. She relocated to Tennessee, and her military training took her all over the country and Europe.

After her Army service, Marty also served in the civil service for twenty-five years in several capacities, including the Internal Revenue Service and the Veteran’s Administration.

After 2011, she returned to Utah, and about six years ago she suffered a severe stroke. Her recovery was difficult, but she was resilient and regained most of her abilities. In July 2025, she met Neil Mitchell, and after a nine-month courtship, she decided to accept a marriage proposal one last time. Sadly, they only had six months of happiness before it was discovered that she had inoperable and incurable ovarian cancer, and she died in his arms at 2:10 a.m. October 27, 2026.

Marty raised five children largely on her own, provided love to all who knew her, and has been welcomed home by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She leaves behind a record of service, love, and devotion and has earned well-deserved peace and rest. She is waiting with a smile and a hug for us when our time on Earth is complete. It will be a joyful reunion.

While Marty used the name Martha Mitchell at church, she didn’t change her name with Social Security. After her last divorce some bureaucrat messed up and she became Martha Jane Ashford Ashford on U.S. records. She didn’t want to deal with them again. I agreed with her. I loved her just the way she was.

She was cremated as her request, there will be a celebration of life later on.