Martha Josephine James

Martha Josephine James was born on Dec. 24, 1942, to Joseph and Teresa Mueggenborg in Kingfisher, OK, the third youngest of nine children.  She was raised on the family farm and loved to tell stories about growing up with her large family.   She hated the pigs!  According to her the pigs tried to trample her when she was little and she fell in the pen.  

She graduated from Kingfisher High School where she was class president, a cheerleader, and a basketball star.  She continued with this go-getter attitude throughout her life instilling confidence and a strong work ethic in her children and grandchildren. She also taught them all to not slouch and to be proud of their height. 

In 1965, while working for PAN AM oil, she met Richard James at a “tall” club.  They married on July 23, 1966, and had 53 years of mostly wedded bliss before his passing in 2022.  They lived for a brief time in Los Angeles before settling in Denver, CO in 1967. They raised their 3 children Judy, Ron, and Teresa in Aurora - some of the wildest children her mother, Grandma Muggenborg, had ever seen.  

Once Teresa was in school, she returned to work, serving as a secretary at an elementary school and later as a clerk for the county court.  She had the patience of a saint, especially during week-long camping vacations to Lake Powell, Yellowstone and other mosquito-infested boating destinations. She enjoyed the lake, water-skiing, and time spent with family and friends.  Some of her favorite times are when her family would visit from Oklahoma.  Her sister, Marilyn, would bring her homemade bread which Marty refused to share!  In 1994, they moved to Kissimmee, Florida for Richard’s job with the airlines.  Although they enjoyed their time in Florida, they moved back to Colorado when they retired.  Being close to family and the mountains was important to her.  She enjoyed babysitting her grandkids and riding bikes on the Poudre Trail with our dad.  She was an active member of St Mary’s Catholic Church and served as a eucharistic minister to the homebound for many years.  She was funny, kind and selfless.  She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her kids Judy (Lee), Ron (Cori), and Teresa (Andy); her 8 grandkids Sara, Matt, Quinn (Molly), Sam, Ryan, Kylie, Alex, and Katie; her sisters Pat (Mike) Crone and Dorothy Taylor.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer's association. 

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