Barbara Martin

Barbara Ellen (Estep) Martin, 88, of Columbia, Missouri and previously of Florissant, Missouri, passed away November 10, 2025.

Barbara was born March 15, 1937, in Reynolds County, Missouri to the late Herbert Estep and Retha Inez (Mason) Estep. Barbara grew up outside of Salem, Missouri and moved to Valley Park, Missouri in high school. Barbara graduated from Valley Park High School in 1955. During her senior year at Valley Park, Barbara met Charles Martin (only a sophomore at the time) at Webster Groves Church of Christ. Barbara and Charles married on July 12, 1958, and were married for sixty-four years at the time of Charles’ death in 2022.

Barbara proudly earned her secretary’s certificate and worked to put Charles through college from 1960-1963. Professionally, through her career, she served as an administrative assistant with the Ferguson-Florissant school district, Florissant Valley Community College and the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

Barbara and Charles lived the first 40 years of their life together in North St. Louis County, living in Dellwood and Florissant. In 1994, she happily unplugged her typewriter and embraced the opportunity to help with childcare for her grandchildren. She was fortunate to be able to provide some childcare for each of her five grandchildren – a role which brought Barbara and Charles to Columbia, Missouri in 1998.

Barbara loved spending time with her family and her “birthday group” at church. She was proud of her home, her children and her grandchildren. Later in life she happily spent hours playing games and watching her grandchildren do what they each loved to do.

She and Charles were faithful Christians – attending the Webster Groves Church of Christ, the Dunn Road Chapel, the Florissant Church of Christ (all in St. Louis County) and the Fairview Road Church of Christ in Columbia.

Barbara was pre-deceased by her husband, Charles, her parents, Herbert and Retha and her brother, Norman Estep. Barbara is survived by their children – a son, Gregory Martin (Dixie) of Troy, Missouri and daughter, Karen Hajicek (Brian) of Columbia, Missouri; five grandchildren – Paige Mercer (Hayden) of Searcy, Arkansas, Hunter Martin of Troy, Missouri, Justin Hajicek (Kara) of Columbia, Missouri, Grant Hajicek of St. Louis, Missouri and Mark Hajicek of Columbia, Missouri; three great-grandchildren – Collins Mercer, Baker Mercer and Annie Hajicek; a sister-in-law, Joan Estep (wife of the late Norman Estep), of Centerton, Arkansas; brother, Ray Estep (Mindy) of Birmingham, Alabama; and numerous extended family and friends.

The family is grateful to the assisted living staff at the Westbury Senior Living Community and the team at Compassus Hospice Care in Columbia for their loving care of Barbara.

Visitation will be on Sunday, November 23rd from 12:00-1:30 pm at the Parker-Millard Funeral Home (12 E. Ash, Columbia, Missouri) with funeral to follow at 1:30 pm.

Contributions in Barbara’s memory may be made to Camp-Ne-O-Tez in DeSoto, Missouri to 3761 Three Oaks Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044. www.neotez.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, 12 East Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 449-4153. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.millardfamilychapels.com