Marta McElroy Goodman, (12/3/28 — 5/9/18) passed away at age 89 of small cell lung cancer in Raleigh, NC, surrounded by family. Marta was born in Garden City, KS, graduated from Garden City schools, and received her degree in Economics from the University of Arizona in Tucson. In early years she was a popular singer and, later, a dancer of the Mary Wigman modern technique. Her professional life was varied, serving 10 years in Washington, DC, as a research assistant to Senator Frank Carlson and, then, to the Honorable James E. Webb. Upon becoming a single parent, she served more than 15 years as executive director of Girl Scout Councils in Kansas, Wyoming, and Illinois. After a few years as comptroller of a family business in Colorado, she moved to New Mexico to be with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival before retiring to Silver City, New Mexico.

Whether she was in our U.S. Capitol, on the north shore of Chicago, all over the state of Wyoming, or in the beautiful enchantment of New Mexico, Marta contributed her talents to volunteer on boards, committees and as adviser to many causes that had special needs. She was one of the founders of the Unitarian Fellowship of Silver City, NM, where the library is named the Marta McElroy Goodman Library. She loved hiking, camping, gardening, reading, music and her friends.

She is survived by her daughter Malin Pereira and son-in-law Ernest Pereira of Charlotte, NC; her son Grant Goodman and his significant other Melanie Walker of Raleigh NC; grandchildren Cameron Walther of Austin, TX, and Blake and Julian Pereira of Charlotte, NC.

Marta's life was privately celebrated by her family. A service to celebrate memories of her life in New Mexico will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 19, around the labyrinth at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City, 3845 N. Swan St., with the Rev. Azima Lila Forest officiating. Marta's friends are invited to attend and to bring stories and photos to share. Her ashes will be interred in the labyrinth and also in the Town and Country Garden Club's rose garden at Memory Lane Cemetery.