Zeta Mary Martinek

Parents were Delbert and Nadja Bates and Brother, John (Debra) Bates.

Zetas home and heart was always in Shawnee, KS. After the passing of her eldest daughter, Christian, we chose to sell the house on 67th, in 2012, and downsize but Zeta never felt as at home as she did in the Shawnee house.

Zeta was a real hippie growing up according to her brother John. They were 11 years apart in age and Zeta was around for John’s younger years but went on to attend Warrensburg College. She loved her parents but was a “daddy’s girl”. She married a Navy Pilot but after a short marriage they divorced. Zeta was always interested and loved art. Her real passion was oil paints and watercolor but she also loved clay, leather, sculpture and tile work. She decided to take an art class at the Metropolitan Community College Art Institute where she met her second husband, Jeff. They were just 2 hippies – living and loving life. They owned a leather shop called the Fantasy Plum and also a candle shop called The Wick Smith on the Plaza. Two years after they married, they had Christian and five years after, the twins – Jennifer & Heather. Zeta became a Home-Maker after the kids were born, which is where she loved to be. In 1990 Jeff & Zeta divorced, she never remarried.

Zeta was loyal, kind, caring and oh so funny. She was that rare soul who spent most of her life taking care of others before herself. She loved many things, including - (never ending) projects around the house, fishing, hunting and hanging out with her best friends - Robin and Daphine. She had the best laugh. Her door at the Shawnee house was always open – literally. She never locked it and when she sold the house we didn’t have a key to give the new owners. All of our friends knew that they had a place to go and to just walk in, grab a coke and hang out with Momma Zeta.

Zeta had several odd jobs after her kids were in high school. She spent many years working on the docks of CF Trucking and Yellow Freight. Working in a male dominating facility didn’t bother Zeta. She could hold her own and was a “tough cookie” according to her brother. She finally retired after her daughter passed away. Ironically Zeta passed away on Christian’ s birthday. After Christian passed she took on the job of helping raise her grandkids, Drew, Becca and Austin. She loved them so much. Zeta leaves behind a lot of love for her daughters Heather, Jen (David) and her grandchildren, Andrew, Rebecca, Austin, Orion, Skylar, Eli and Milly.

Special thanks to the Good Samaritan Society, Good Shepherd Hospice, and Jennifer Falkner for all their love, care and support during her final year.

“Spread your wings and fly away, fly away far away. Spread your little wings and fly away”