Amy Louise Martin

Amy Louise Martin was born in Monongahela, Pennsylvania on May 21st 1954. After graduating from Ringgold High School, she attended the University of Pittsburgh, and was accepted into the Pitt physical therapy school. Through her involvement in a Methodist youth fellowship during high school, she met her future husband, Andy, at a winter youth retreat. Amy and Andy were married on September 1, 1979 at Heinz Chapel on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Amy began her career at Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh and provided home health physical therapy after her regular hours. Most recently she cared for patients at Asheville Health Care Center and Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC. Amy cherished the relationships with her colleagues and loved caring for her patients, whether they were children with disabilities or adults in the retirement setting. Her gentle spirit and compassionate nature drew people to her, along with her gifts of humility, kindness and patience. Amy expressed these God given gifts with everyone whose lives she touched. Amy's commitments in her life were clear: to love the Lord, her family and the people with whom she came in contact with each day. She was a supreme cook and treasured hosting family and friends in her home. She made each birthday celebration special and holiday gatherings were always something to remember. Amy loved God's creation and the beauty of the outdoors including hikes to local mountain waterfalls and special getaways to the much-loved beaches of the Outer Banks. She thoroughly enjoyed sports and had a very competitive spirit, which at times caught some people by surprise. Amy was taken into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 20th 2014 at the age of 60. Her steadfast faith and devotion were an inspiration to many. God orchestrated the timing of her passing so that her husband, children and sisters could be with her in her final days on this earth. She was the beloved wife of Andrew Martin and loving mother to Jennifer Martin of Asheville, North Carolina; Jonathan Martin of Chicago, Illinois; and Lyndi Martin of Arden, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Charles Reid Dougherty and Elizabeth Anne Dougherty. Amy is also survived by her beloved sisters Susan Dougherty of Charlottesville, Virginia; Meg Friedewald of Pampa, Texas; and Beth Paschetto of Atlanta, Georgia. Her exceeding love for her family will continue to live in each of them. Amy's presence will be greatly missed, but our confidence is in knowing that her absence from us means she is present with the Lord. Philippians 3: 20-21: But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to himself. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Arden Presbyterian Church on 2215 Hendersonville Road, Arden, NC at 2pm on Tuesday, December 23rd 2014. Amy requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the either The Key Learning Center at Carolina Day School, 1345 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 or the Arden Presbyterian Church's Mercy Ministries, 2215 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC 28704.