Martha D. Kriever

Martha D. Kriever, 92, passed away on Monday, May 10, 2021, at the Hospice House Brookside in Palm Harbor, Florida. She was born in Sewickly, Pennsylvania on March 25, 1929 and had lived in Florida for the past 61 years. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers, and her sisters. She is survived by her children, Jane (Mike) Pixley and Blair (Joyce) Kriever; grandchildren Charlie (Jeanine), Richie (Randi), and Kaitlin (Schneider).  She loved her great-grandchildren, Matthew, Evan, Caden, Lucas, Jaianna, Zachary, Jahvid and Maci Jane.

Martha grew up in a house full of children. She had three sisters and two brothers. Her sisters and brothers, Jane, Lilan, James, Christine and Richard were always loving, supportive and full of fun.  She also had numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews that she loved to hear from.

Her father was a plumber and the Fire Chief for the town of Sewickley. She always spoke highly of him being the “plumbing Fire Chief”. As a student at Sewickley High School, she was the Head Cheerleader and also participated in gymnastics. Her husband, Hugh, was a star athlete in football, basketball and track. She enjoyed telling stories of the cheers they did for him in football…”Skyrocket for Kriever”.

Martha went to Indiana State Teachers College and graduated with a degree in Education. She married her high school sweetheart, Hugh in 1951 and moved to Quantico where he was a member of the United States Marine Corps while playing for the USMC Football Team. In 1952, they welcomed their first child, Blair when soon after, the family moved to Louisville, KY, where she taught and he was a Student Athlete at the University of Louisville. She kept the home fires burning as he worked and finished school. They welcomed their daughter, Jane, in 1954.

In 1960, the family moved to Clearwater, Florida. She was a substitute teacher, took care of the house, the kids and also her mother who moved to Florida with them. She was a great football wife as her husband became a head football coach in Pinellas County. She was a wonderful mother that went out of her way to help her family and anyone in need. As her husband’s career blossomed, she was right there by his side to assist in any way possible.

They enjoyed traveling in their motor homes on long journeys around the country. She was proud that they made to all of the lower 48 states. They also traveled to Alaska, Hawaii and Australia. She truly had a “Green Thumb” as she grew bromeliads, African Violets, orchids and many other plants. Her yard looked like a jungle with all the wide variety of plants she had. If someone had a problem with a plant, Martha could usually bring it back to health while finding pleasure working in her greenhouse.

Martha was a cancer survivor as she battled it into remission for twelve years. She was also an incredible caregiver to her husband who battled Alzheimer’s disease before succumbing to a stroke. She has missed him terribly since his passing. She was a true sports fan and loved watching the Tampa Bay Rays and Buccaneers. We always made sure she knew what time and what station she needed to watch the games. We will miss those “reminder” conversations.

Our mother lived through the depression, World War II (with a brother and sister serving in the Army), the invention of the Atomic Bomb, the Cold War, Vietnam, assassinations, men walking on the moon, the creation of the computer, the pandemic and so many other incredible and terrifying events. While our mother was concerned about all of these, she remained dedicated to her family and friends she dearly loved.