Martha (Marty) Carrol Henness, 84, of Montgomery City, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025, at her home.
A memorial visitation will be from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, November 1, at Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City. A private family celebration of life will be held later.
Martha Henness was born on December 7, 1940, in Tekamah, Neb., to Amos Earnest and Leonora (Lawson) Winingham.
Martha graduated from Auburn High School in Auburn, Ill. In her early years following her first marriage, she dedicated herself to raising her family as a homemaker. She married Don Henness in 1983 in Montgomery City. He passed away on July 3, 1987. Over the years, she was a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating several businesses including Frank’s Bar and Grill, Sit -N- Bull and Trucker’s Homestead. Alongside her husband, Don, she managed Henness Electric.
After Don’s death, Martha co-owned a shoe store in Montgomery City called Shoes-n-Stuff. Her professional journey continued with a position at Heldt Electric in Big Springs. Her final career choice was to serve as the campus coordinator at Missouri Girl’s Town, where she served for fifteen years influencing young women. She retired at the age of 70.
Martha had a passion for sewing, gardening, cooking, traveling and reading. She especially loved being near the water – whether swimming or simply relaxing on the beach – it was her peaceful place. A lifelong reader with a deep love and knowledge of history, she found joy in exploring the world around her.
Her life was dedicated to her children. She found no greater joy than being with them and with her many grandchildren. She was the proud mother of six children, September Wolke of Auburn, Ill., Ricca Carr of Hallsville, Earnest (Diana) Higgins of St. Paul (St. Charles County, Stephanie (Randy) Rowland of Nevada, Texas, Victoria (William) Biggs of Montgomery City and Clint (Kateryna) Henness of Montgomery City, Missouri; 12 grandchildren, Krystal Connolly, Christopher Wolke, Kaitlyn (Fiancée Bryan) Wolke, Brigitte Tollett, Travis (Colleen) Carr, Adam (Caitlin) Carr, Heather Ruel, Holly Higgins, Kristen (Randy) Armstrong, Eric (Valerie) Biggs, Tessa Henness and Clint A.E. Henness; 13 great-grandchildren; and one uncle, Jim Lawson of Tekamah, Nebraska.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Amos Earnest and Leonora Winingham; one brother, G. Richard Winingham; and one sister, Joann Sheerin; one son-in-law, Gary B. Wolke; and one grandson, Ryan A. Biggs.
Memorial donations may be given to the Ryan A. Biggs Memorial Scholarship Fund. They may be sent in care of Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, or People’s Savings Bank, 105 N. Sturgeon St., Montgomery City, MO 63361.
Online condolences may be left at www.schlankerfuneralhome.com.
