Martha Rose Gann was born December 12, 1926 to Oscar
Cecil and Cecyle (Peterson) Trostle and went to be with her Lord on June
6, 2013 in Chickasha, OK. As she would always say, she was born in Webb
City, OK before there even was a Webb City.
She is survived by her only daughter, Joyce Corrales and
granddaughters Jeannie Van Sanford, Victorville, CA and Tammie Sue Lynn
Browning, Patricia Browning and three great grandchildren, Alex, Snow
and Alexsandra of Phoenix, AZ, also her many nieces and nephews. Two
nieces, Jeanie and Cecyle have lovingly stayed at her side helping all
they could, guided by her brother, Bruce Trostle. Also surviving is her
brother Neal Trostle and sister, Nancy Cunningham. Rose lost her older
sister, Doris Jean Hall on May 20, 2013, the morning of the big tornado,
after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Rose was preceded in death by her
parents, Oscar and Cecyle Trostle, brother’s Bob and Lyn Trostle and an
infant baby boy, Oscar Bruce.
In the early 50’s, Rose wrote many speeches on equality
of the races, and would go downtown Oklahoma City and speak to anyone
who would listen. It was during these times she met her husband of
twenty years, Raymond Gann. He was a blind, crippled man and they
traveled for a few years making their living with the music they made.
He played the accordion and she would sing or play the harmonica. When
they had their child, Joyce, they stopped traveling and to help make
ends meet Rose made doll furniture out of cigar boxes and would sit on
the streets and sell them. She learned to make carnations out of tissue
paper and made wreaths for Memorial Day and other holidays. One of the
local newspapers referred to her as “the flower lady of Oklahoma City”.
In the early 70’s Rose lived in the Black Hotel in OKC and tried to buy
it by seeking donations from all Oklahoman’s so that the older people of
Oklahoma City would have a place to live that they could afford. The
story made national news on TV. She spent her life trying to find ways
to help others. Rose learned to make small yarn dolls and would sit and
sell them, too. She had a regular route to collect aluminum cans
starting at 6 AM, pulling a wire grocery cart behind her. She bought and
paid for 4 working cars by selling cans. She lived by herself with the
help of her dear cousin, Helen New, until Rose had to move to a
full-time care facility due to failing health.
Oklahoma has lost one of its strongest supporters. She
truly loved Oklahoma and often said it had to be the “center of the
universe”. The most important thing in her life besides her family was
her love of God and she read from the Bible every day and tried her best
to spread the good news of God’s Kingdom. May she rest in his loving
care.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Salvation Army at
www.salvationarmyusa.org
Alzheimer’s Association at www.alzfdn.org
Private family services have been held at Grandview
Cemetery, Kaw City, OK
