Kiley Elisabeth Martens, 24, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. She was born Aug. 19, 1983.
Survivors include her parents; two brothers, Devin Martens of Tallahassee, Fla., and Kirby Martens of Springdale; two sisters, Becke Stuart of Conway and Amelia Martens of Springdale; and maternal grandparents, Dewey and Sylvia Pitts of Fayetteville.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today at Westfield Chapel with the family present from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Christian Life Cathedral in Fayetteville with Pastors Steve Dixon, Red Dixon and Tony Harrison officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. Pallbearers will be Nathan Strigler, Craig Dewey, Trey Bailey, Chuck King, Jeff Martens and Eric Stuart. To sign the online guest book go to www.westfieldchapel.com.
I know Kiley's family would love to hear from her friends who loved her! Her guestbook is such a sweet way to share a good memory of Kiley!
Kiley holding Miranda's daughter, Alyson
Top row(Kiley)
Bottom row(Robin, me, and Miranda)
Summer 2007
More pictures from this summer of Kiley, friends, and me.
Also, visit: Miranda's site
I am delaying my Valentine's Day post for a few reasons. Yesterday, amidst all of our early Valentine parties, a good friend of mine from Northwest Arkansas passed away. A phone call last night rocked me to the core and forever changed my world. Her suicide has left her friends and family questioning God tonight and trying to put the pieces back together. I specifically ask for your prayers. The last two days have been extremely hard for me, as I know for all of her friends and family. Her funeral will be on Saturday morning in Fayetteville, a day I am hosting a baby shower at my home for another friend. It will work out for me to still do both, but I am going to need some major strength. Any death is hard, but this one in particular is heart wrenching. My heart is heavy with anguish and grief. I too wish like everyone else that I called her more often and expressed more passionately what a wonderful friend she was. She was an incredible woman and truly lit up the room with her sense of humor and undeniable beauty. She is missed tonight and I am trusting in the hope that is Christ that I will see her again. I am comforted by God's word, and for those of you who loved Kiley, I hope it comforts you too.
2 Thessalonians 2:16
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, may he
Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work."
Oh Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you and others are going through this. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Leah
I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to you at this time. You will be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI tried to call u a while ago--call me or message me if you need/want to talk. love you!
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to all of her friends and family. I was not close to Kiley, but I have literally felt sick to my stomach since I found out last night--I cannot imagine what those close to her are going through. Her beauty was breathtaking, and this is such a tragedy!!! I'm praying for everyone touched by her loss!
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry! I will keep her family and friends, including you in my prayers.
I will pray for all those left behind that must go on living in this life. Just take one day at a time & God will be there to help you with all the pain, that you will have to make peace with for a very long time to come. Something like this doesn't make any sense today or even years from today. This just goes to show us that we never know what someone else might be going thru. Thats why its so important that we never take each other for grated & if you need to reach out to someone for what ever reason don't wait, you never know when you might ever see them again. Kiley will be missed more than she ever will know. My heart breaks for her parents, family & friends. May God comfort you as you try to go on.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I pray God's loving arms around you tonight. It's times like these that people tend to question God, but I pray that God will be closer to you and her family than ever before.
ReplyDeleteWords can't express how sorry I am for your loss! My heart aches for you, her family and friends. I recently went through something very similar to this with a family friend and I know that the hurt is just unbearable. Just trust that God will give you the strength to carry on as you go forward! I will be praying for you and everyone that was blessed to have her in their lives!!
ReplyDeleteJessica I am so sorry for your lost. My thoughts and prayers are with y'all.
ReplyDeleteHow very sad. My heart hurts for you and for all who loved her. I'll be praying for you over the next few days.
ReplyDeleteOh Jessica - I am SO sorry. She was a beautiful girl. You never know what kind of inward pain people are carrying around. It is a wake-up call to reach out to your friends and encourage and love on them.
ReplyDeleteI know this is a difficult day for you and I'm thinking about you. I'll pray for you on Saturday that God will give you a strength that only He can give to get you through the day.
I'm so sorry.
I am so sorry for your loss! Suicide is so hard to understand. You will be in my thoughts and prayers!
ReplyDeleteIt is so comforting to read the verse you have posted! I am so grateful that over the past couple of months, Kiley and I started chatting! She was an incredible person! You are exactly right, when she walked in a room, she lit it up with her beauty and personality! I know that she is with our Heavenly Father now!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely pray for God's Strength on Saturday to be able to host a shower after the funeral, if you need help with anything, please do not hesitate to ask!
I'm soooooooooooooooooooooo very sorry to hear that!!!! Be strong!!! That is sooooo very sad!!!!
ReplyDelete((((BIG HUGS)))
Oh I am so Sorry~ I wish I had words of comfort during this time for you... I will keep you in my thoughts...(( Hugs))
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry for your loss. I almost lost my baby brother one year ago this week to suicide. I understand the sadness and the confusion. You, Kiley's friends and family are in my prayers! May the Lord show you comfort and peace.
ReplyDeletePraying for you......
ReplyDeleteDear sweet Jessica, my heart goes out to you for your loss. Good friends are hard to come by and to loose one is terrible. Gods grace be on you during this time. Though I didn't know Kiley she must have been a beautiful person for her to have been one of your friends. My prayers to her family for their loss of such a lovely young woman.God bless and if I can help in any way during this time please let me know.
ReplyDeleteJess I am so sorry! So sorry! I will be praying!
ReplyDeleteJessica, I am so terribly sorry for this loss...for you and for all others who knew her. My sister lost a friend this way not long ago, so I know how heart-breaking it is. Praying for you...
ReplyDeleteOh Jessica. I'm so very sorry. I'll be praying for you in the days ahead. So, so sorry.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. What a beautiful young girl she was. I will keep everyone who is touched by her passing in my prayers. Suicide is such a difficult thing to get thru. So many questions left unaswered.
ReplyDeletePrayers and hugs...I'm so sorry...
ReplyDeleteOh Jessica I am so sorry to hear this news, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. Such a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteLinda
You will be in my thoughts and prayers this weekend, along with her family.
ReplyDeleteOh Jessica,
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible loss of a beautiful young woman. My prayers and thoughts will be with you, her family and friends today and for the days to come. I know God's strength will lift you up because of your faith in Him. We don't always see the "BIG" picture, but He always does! lots of love...Susan
Oh Jessica,
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible loss of a beautiful young woman. My prayers and thoughts will be with you, her family and friend today and the days to come. I know that God's strength will lift you up because of your faith in Him. We don't always see the "BIG" picture, but He always does! Love to you...Susan
Jessica, I am praying for you right now and that precious family that has encountered GREAT lose. I will be lifting you up all weekend as you yeild yourself to the Holy Spirit. That he will completely take over and lead you.
ReplyDeletethe words to this song are the first thing that entered my mind this morning.
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when
we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.
"Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love." Lamentations 3: 32
Jessica, I am so sorry for your loss - I will keep you in my prayers as you go through some emotional times in the next few days.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss Jessica.
ReplyDeleteYou and this beautiful girls' family are in my thoughts and prayers!
I am really sorry to hear about this. I will lift you, her family, and this weekend up to the heavenly father now. (((hugs))) and prayers for strength coming your way this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. And unfortunately, I know how you feel. Our neighbor friend committed suicide one week before our wedding. Thanks for posting so that we can pray for everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss. I will keep you and her family in my prayers. Take care.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your friend. You are in my thoughts and Prayers Denise Brockinton
Oh, Jessica! Wow! I don't even know what to say other than I am certainly praying for you and all the others impacted by such a tragic loss. I have no idea why things like his happen but I trust in some way God will bring good.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I am so sad to hear about your friend. Her family and friends will be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteWow, so sorry for your loss. So sad & shocking.
ReplyDeleteThoughts are with you, Jessica.
Jessica........oh I'm sorry for your loss. If I were there I would give you a big big big big hug. I can't imagine what you are going thru or what you will have to face on Saturday doing something both joyous and sad. If you want to chat, email me or even call me.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteI am so so very sorry for your loss. I pray that you and all that were close to her will feel the presence of God and take comfort in that. While the way she died leaves so many questions. I think that suicide can be classified as mental illness, if only tempoary, it leaves those feeling they have no where to turn. I know if is hard not to ask questions (I lost someone I knew this way too). I pray for comfort, peace and that the memory of your friend will sustain you all throughout the next days and months ahead.
My sincere condolances to you Jessica.
I am so so sorry. I will be praying for her family and for you.
ReplyDeleteJessica ~ I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you, her family, and friends in my prayers. May God be with you!
ReplyDeleteI will pray for you this weekend. Specifically I will ask God to give you physical and mental strength and will show you specific ways you can minister to this family.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I am so sorry to hear about your friend!!! I can't even begin to imagine how sick you must feel!! I will so be praying for you.
ReplyDelete"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
Love and Hugs,
Charity
This breaks my heart as well! :(
ReplyDeleteShe of all people I played ball with/went to school with, would I ever think capable of this! She was such a beautiful person inside and out and such a CARING person! The world and her family/friends are definitly going to miss her!
I am so sorry for your loss. She looks like a charming beauty. We will be thinking of you. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteSuch a horrible loss! May God comfort those who are grieving and lead someone to Christ who may have never found Him any other way. She is beautiful for eternity with her loving Father. My prayers are with you and all her loved ones.
ReplyDeleteSending prayers your way...
ReplyDeleteJessica, I am so sorry!! My heart goes out to you and her family!
ReplyDeleteIm terribly sorry for your loss... You and your friends families will be in my prayers as well...
ReplyDeleteJessica, I am so very sorry for you and her family. She was so young and that is when things get so hard to understand. May God be your comfort for the days to come and so you might be a comfort to her family.
ReplyDeleteWow, so sorry to hear about this. May God be with you during this hard time.....
ReplyDeleteOh Jessica! I am so, so, so sorry. Beyond sorry. These things are so hard to make sense out of, to wrap your mind around...
ReplyDeleteLet's pray right now! Lord I just ask that you wrap Your arms around Jessica and give her peace and strength throughout all of this, and I thank you for her sweet compassion and for making her the type of person who even in the midst of grief, is serving others. God, I ask that you grant grace and peace and comfort to the hearts of all of the family and friends of this girl who passed. Thank you Lord for holding her in Your arms as she breathed her last and I just ask that you pour out your love upon all of those who loved and knew her. In Your Son's name, Amen.
Again, I am so sorry. I felt such a drop in my stomach when I read that.
Again Jess I am so sorry and I have thought about this all day. I am praying for the family and for you for this weekend. love jenny
ReplyDeleteJust want you to know I'm still thinking about and praying for you and all of this sweet girl's friends and family. I can't stop thinking about it. Just looking at her beautfiul pictures...my heart is hurting for you all.
ReplyDeleteMay the Lord be with you during this difficult time! I am so sorry for your loss!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. I have prayed for you today.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
Jessica--I've been thinking about you and praying for you today.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted you to know that you've been in my thoughts and prayers today.
ReplyDeleteJessica, i wish i could say something unique that would provide you comfort but everyone else is so much more eloquent than me. my heart just goes out to you and yours/her family. i'll keep you in my prayers. thanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJessica...I am just now catching up on my blog reading. I am so sorry about your friend. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOhh im so sorry for you all. What a beautiful girl.
ReplyDeleteI have been touched by suicide and it leaves so many unanswered questions. It leaves all in unmeasurable pain and pain for Kiley and what she felt will keep you strong and Your Love for God as his for you will get you threw it.My thoughts and prayers are with You and Your family .
I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss..can't stop thinking about and praying for her family, loved ones, and friends.
ReplyDelete