WATERS, Martha L.

Kingman Daily Miner, Kingman, Arizona Sunday, January 25, 2009 Martha L. Waters, 87 - widow of former Miner publisher, co-owner of the newspaper for more than 30 years and the writer of the then-weekly newspaper's popular Around the Town column - will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at St. Johns United Methodist Church. Born Martha Dean Lucas on Jan. 18, 1922, in Estill Springs, Tenn., Mrs. Waters moved to Bisbee as a teenager with her family. It was there she met her husband, Dick, who preceded her in death in 1986. Following World War II, the young couple moved to Kingman. Several years later, they and the late Joe and Esther Long purchased the Miner, which the two families operated for more than two decades. In the late 1960s, the Waters and the Soldwedel family of Yuma formed Mohave County Miner Inc., and that company published the Miner and the Mohave Valley News in Bullhead City. In mid-1970, Mr. Waters' poor health required them to sell their interest in the newspaper company and relocate closer to doctors in Phoenix. Mrs. Waters returned to live in Kingman with her daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, Joe Lopez, in 2005. She died at their home Thursday from complications of heart disease but had remained active and in reasonably good health until then. Her memberships and volunteer activities during her time in Kingman included: Mohave County Historical Society, American Legion Auxiliary, Daughters of Mohave County Pioneers, Order of the Eastern Star, the Hostess Club and several bridge clubs. She was also an active contributor to St. Johns Methodist Church and a volunteer for numerous civic and charitable organizations. Her life, however, revolved around her family and friends, her love of sports and games and all kinds, and helping those less fortunate. She was an all-conference basketball player in Tennessee, and played that sport and fast-pitch softball as a young woman in Kingman. Well into her 50s, she could still shoot free throws at an 80-percent rate. And as a freshman at Tempe Normal (now Arizona State University), she set school records in the 75-yard dash and shot put. She was a fan of all Arizona sports teams, was a founding contributor of the Fiesta Bowl and has continued to hold tickets to the annual games. She loved bridge and bingo and other games of skill and chance. In addition to her late husband, Mrs. Waters was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Sara Ann Hargrove of Bullhead City (in 2007), two brothers, Kenneth Lucas and Jack Lucas, and a sister, Evelyn Brown. In addition to Julie and Joe Lopez, survivors include: son and daughter-in-law John and Cathy Waters of Riverside, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law Charlie and Linda Waters of Henderson, Nev.; son-in-law Dan Hargrove of Bullhead City; brother Robert of Phoenix; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; and eight nieces and nephews. Although she will be interred at Mountain View Cemetery, those arrangements and burial details are still pending. The family requests that memorials be given to the Mohave County Historical Society in the name of Dick and Martha Waters Kingman Daily Miner Sunday, January 25, 2009