Marta Louise McFarling was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 17, 1951 to parents Donald P. McFarling and Linda Ulrey McFarling. The second eldest in a family of five children, she gladly and lovingly took on the role of protective oldest sister to her three younger siblings. Sympathetic and soft- hearted, even as a teen she was the first to nurse you if you were sick or listen compassionately to your problems, qualities she maintained throughout her life, even during her hardest struggles. Marta was a born artist. She could paint, make beautiful stained-glass pieces, quilts, and sew custom made clothing. She could also sing, and as a young woman sang in bands and choir with a gorgeous coloratura soprano range. Not only was Marta blessed with artistic and creative talent, she was very smart, attending nursing school and also obtaining a realtor’s license. She worked many years at her family’s company, McFarling Foods, Inc, filling positions in Customer Service and Will Call and eventually joining the Sales Team where she flourished as a sales rep. There was nothing Marta couldn’t do, and everything she did she did well, answering to a powerful perfectionist streak in her nature. On top of all that, she was funny! Blessed with a special knack for witty zingers and memorable spicy comebacks!

Of all her accomplishments and talents, her favorite role was that of mother to her two sons, Russell Thomas Bush and John Elliot Bush, step-mother to Larry Bush, Jr and Josh and Trisha Briggs. She was blessed with four grandchildren, Brevin, Dylan, Sophia and Audrey, whom she dearly loved. Her later years were filled with a passionate devotion to God, Bible study and faith in Jesus Christ. She voiced many times recently her sincere yearning to be with the Lord in Heaven and now she is. Preceding Marta in death were her parents, her beloved son, Russell Thomas Bush, grandparents Leonard Irson McFarling and Ora Dell McFarling, Elza Leonard Ulrey and Nancy Emmaline Ulrey, all of Illinois, 13 precious aunts and 11 precious uncles, several beloved cousins, her ex-husband and father of her children, Larry Dean Bush and ex-husband Greg Briggs. Surviving to cherish her memory are her son John Elliot Bush (Peggy) of Avon, Indiana, grandchildren Brevin Bush, Coatesville, Indiana, Dylan Bush, Indianapolis, Indiana, Sophia and Audrey Bush, Petal, Mississippi, sisters-- Julie McFarling Wise (Bill) and Bonnie McFarling (Lafi), brothers—Leonard McFarling (Carla) and Charles McFarling. Several nieces and nephews, cousins and special daughters-in-law Malisa Taylor Bush and Tabitha McFadden.

A funeral service for Marta will be held Wednesday, June 12th at Bousley Funeral Home, Coatesville, Indiana. Calling starts at 11:00 am with memorial service following at 1:00pm. Burial will be at Roachdale Cemetery directly after services.