Martha Norwood

Martha Norwood

December 2, 1947 — July 11, 2018

Martha Norwood of Spicewood, Texas, passed away on July 11, 2018 at the South Austin Medical Center in Austin after a lengthy illness.

Martha was born on Dec. 2, 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama, but the family soon moved to Texas. She grew up in the Houston area, but moved to Austin early after her first marriage.

Martha was an honors student in high school, was in the all-state band playing the clarinet, and was offered a scholarship to Julliard, which she turned down in order to get married. She had finished two years of college and was hoping to complete her associate’s degree in business.

Sometime after her divorce, she married Rick Norwood of Austin on Oct. 11, 1976. They soon moved to Spicewood, where they spent 30 years building their own home in the woods.

In Spicewood Martha served on various community organizations. She was on the board of the Highland Lakes SPCA; served on the board of, and was a past president of, the Spicewood Arts Society; she was currently the secretary of the Fall Creek Cemetery Association; she was also currently the secretary of the local Emergency Services District. Martha also wrote periodic newspaper columns about happenings in Spicewood for The Highlander newspaper of Marble Falls.

She is survived by her loving husband, Rick Norwood of Spicewood; son Sean Coutorie of Santa Fe, Texas; daughter Sandra Norwood-Sloan of Portland, Oregon; granddaughter Kelsey Coutorie of Houston; grandson Cameron Coutorie of Santa Fe; sister Barbara Wright of the Houston area and her husband Danny Wright. She is survived as well by many in-laws, nephews and nieces.

The family is grateful to the St. David’s hospital system for the loving care she received during the past year of her illnesses. They especially want to thank Martha’s primary care doctor, Dr. Sharon Hausman-Cohen of Austin, her hematologist Dr. Matthew Meeneghan of Austin, and her cardiologist, Dr. Chauhan of Austin, for helping her through these difficult months.

Martha was an angel. She was Rick’s angel. She had an inner glow, a radiance, that brought a smile to everyone who met her. She had many, many friends in Austin, Spicewood, and Burnet County. She also loved animals, especially dogs. She had to pet every dog she saw.

The graveside service was held for family members at the Fall Creek Cemetery near Spicewood on July 15. There will be a celebration of Martha’s life at the Spicewood Community Center on July 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will be casual.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Highland Lakes SPCA would be appreciated.