Marthabel McKinley Wardlaw, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, in Houston, Texas, following a brief illness. She was born April 20, 1928, in Stranger, Texas, to Lucy Winnie Brothers McKinley and Wesley Franklin McKinley.Marthabel attended school in Marlin, Texas, and attended the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. She married N.J. Wardlaw Jr. of Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 2, 1947. They lived in Lubbock, Texas, Albuquerque, N.M., and Shreveport, La., before settling in Houston in 1969. Marthabel was a housewife while her children were in school, and upon their graduation, became a valuable employee of several Houston banking companies.She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and son, N.J. Wardlaw III.She is survived by three children, Chastain Wardlaw and wife Kiki of Valdosta, Ga., Greg Wardlaw and wife Jana of Fort Worth, Texas, and Elizabeth Russey and husband Terry of Houston, Texas; 12 grandchildren, N.J. Wardlaw IV and wife Lisa, Betsy McDonald and husband Matthew, Lang Wardlaw, Andrea Consual and husband Parker, Bob Wardlaw, Jason Wardlaw and wife Kelly, Georgia Lea and husband Mike, Baker Wardlaw, Sean Wardlaw, Liz Stringer and husband Dalton, Lucy Wardlaw, and Marthalea Russey and husband Francisco Coutino; six great-grandchildren, Patsy Wardlaw, Avery McDonald, P.C. Consual, Joah McDonald, Nathan Wardlaw and Drew Wardlaw, and a seventh great-grandchild due in April. She also is survived by numerous other relatives.Memorial services will be conductded at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, at Adams Funeral Home, 129 Coleman Street, Marlin, Texas, 76661. Interment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Historic Allen House, 305 Ward Street, Marlin, Texas, 76661; or a charity of the giver's choice.