Martha Palmer

Martha Mae Palmer, 82, longtime Seminole resident, died Thursday, December 31, 2015 in Seminole, Oklahoma. Martha was born May 6, 1933 in Konawa, Oklahoma to Walter Ceasar and Nancy (Alexander) Burgess. Martha grew up in the Konawa area and attended Vamoosa School in Seminole County and was a proud member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Martha was a homemaker; she loved attending church at Spring Indian Church, being independent as long as possible. She was a former member of the Seminole Indian Baptist Church of Konawa, Oklahoma. Martha’s first marriage was to Johnny Notah from Hunter’s Point, Arizona; he came to live in Seminole County in 1946 after being honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps. They settled in Wewoka in 1950 and he lived there until his death in September 2000. Later she married Don Palmer who also preceded her in death. Martha is survived by her two sons; Ronald W. Notah of Pensacola, Florida and Anthony C. Notah of Jamestown, New Mexico, her brother Jonas Burgess of Seminole, Oklahoma and  half-sister Evelyn Puntka of Shawnee, Oklahoma, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, brother Rev. Alexander Burgess, sisters Francis Tanyan, Jane Burgess and Eliza Jessie infant brother and sister, Ina and George Burgess and granddaughter Ronesa “Pooh” Notah. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at the Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma, with John Campbell officiating, Burial will be at Little Cemetery. Wake services will be held on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel. Casket bearers will be Antony Notah, Marvin Notah, Michael Notah, Tyler Boydstun, Bobby Boydstun, Jr. and Ronnie Burgess. Honorary bearers will be Nathan Notah, Charles Burgess, Lee Wayne Wood and Micah Notah. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: January 6, 2016, 10:30 AM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips, Seminole, OK 74868