Martha Gann

Martha Rose Gann was born December 12, 1926 to Oscar Cecil and Cecyle Peterson Trostle and went to be with her Lord on June 6, 2013 in Chickasha, OK. As she would always say, she was born in Webb City, OK before there even was a Webb City.

She is survived by her only daughter, Joyce Corrales and granddaughters Jeannie Van Sanford, Victorville, CA and Tammie Sue Lynn Browning, Patricia Browning and three great grandchildren, Alex, Snow and Alexsandra of Phoenix, AZ, also her many nieces and nephews. Two nieces, Jeanie and Cecyle have lovingly stayed at her side helping all they could, guided by her brother, Bruce Trostle. Also surviving is her brother Neal Trostle and sister, Nancy Cunningham. Rose lost her older sister, Doris Jean Hall on May 20, 2013, the morning of the big tornado, after a long battle with Alzheimers. Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Cecyle Trostle, brothers Bob and Lyn Trostle and an infant baby boy, Oscar Bruce.

In the early 50s, Rose wrote many speeches on equality of the races, and would go downtown Oklahoma City and speak to anyone who would listen. It was during these times she met her husband of twenty years, Raymond Gann. He was a blind, crippled man and they traveled for a few years making their living with the music they made. He played the accordion and she would sing or play the harmonica. When they had their child, Joyce, they stopped traveling and to help make ends meet Rose made doll furniture out of cigar boxes and would sit on the streets and sell them. She learned to make carnations out of tissue paper and made wreaths for Memorial Day and other holidays. One of the local newspapers referred to her as the flower lady of Oklahoma City. In the early 70s Rose lived in the Black Hotel in OKC and tried to buy it by seeking donations from all Oklahomans so that the older people of Oklahoma City would have a place to live that they could afford. The story made national news on TV. She spent her life trying to find ways to help others. Rose learned to make small yarn dolls and would sit and sell them, too. She had a regular route to collect aluminum cans starting at 6 AM, pulling a wire grocery cart behind her. She bought and paid for 4 working cars by selling cans. She lived by herself with the help of her dear cousin, Helen New, until Rose had to move to a fulltime care facility due to failing health.

Oklahoma has lost one of its strongest supporters. She truly loved Oklahoma and often said it had to be the center of the universe. The most important thing in her life besides her family was her love of God and she read from the Bible every day and tried her best to spread the good news of Gods Kingdom. May she rest in his loving care.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Salvation Army at www.salvationarmyusa.org

Alzheimers Association at www.alzfdn.org

Private family services have been held at Grandview Cemetery, Kaw City, OK