It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mom, Marlene Florence Martin. Marlene left us early morning, on September 15, 2024, peacefully in her home, in Conway, South Carolina with her eldest son, Bob, watching over her. She was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 5, 1937, a daughter of the late Robert Lee Smith and Florence Thomas Smith.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husbands, Bill Dool and Raymond Martin; brothers, Robert Kevin Smith and Daniel Smith; grandson, Jason Kelchner.

In August of 1956 Marlene married Robert Kelchner and they had seven children. In 1991 she married William "Bill" Dool and they moved to South Carolina in 2001. After getting all settled in South Carolina, she and Bill joined Oakey Swamp Baptist Church in Conway, South Carolina. After Bill passed away in 2008, she married Ray Martin who preceded her in death on August 15, 2024. Marlene attended and graduated from University of Black Hills State University, South Dakota with AA degree. She worked for the Federal Government, Civil Service as a secretary for twenty years. She spent most of her time in the early years taking care of her kids and later working and spending time with her grand kids as she could. She loved to dance especially with her kids, loved her babies and glowed when they were around, but she loved Jesus with all her heart. She was very generous with her time and her money. Her dogs were her babies and she made sure they had the best food and was taken care of because they brought her comfort when coming home at the end of the day. Marlene loved to make ceramics in her younger years and always enjoyed making things for other people. Another thing she enjoyed doing was working in her garden and loved watching her flowers grow every year. She was always ready to have fun and make a joke, always spending her relaxing time going to yard sales with her husband on the weekends. Her favorite prayer was The Lord's Prayer, Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be the name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.

She is survived by her seven children, Robert Kelchner (Maria), Bryan Kelchner (Candis), Torey Kelchner Gilbert, Mark Kelchner (Dana), David Kelchner (Dora), Patrick Kelchner and Tricia Kelchner Cosentino; seventeen grandchildren, Jennifer Kelchner (Jake), Rebecca Kelchner/Holets (Ryan), Peter Kelchner, Caleb Kelchner, Stephanie Brock Hayward (Daniel), Alexandra Gilbert Gueno (Miles), Garrett Kelchner (Lacy), Mason Kelchner (Jenna), Benjamin Kelchner (Sara), Daniel Kelchner, Noah Kelchner, Rachel Kelchner, Thomas Cosentino, Michael Cosentino, Ashley Cosentino, and Christopher Cosentino (Alissa); twenty-eight great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be at 10am, Friday, September 27, 2024 at Watson Funeral Services Chapel.

Burial will follow at 1pm at Florence National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 9am until time of service at the funeral home.

Please sign a guestbook at watsonfuneralservices.com.

Watson Funeral Services and Crematory, 2300 Hwy 378, Conway, SC is serving the family.