Martha Behneman McGrath

After a courageous nine year battle with cancer, Martha Behneman McGrath died on May 27th, 2021 at home with her family beside her. Martha was born in Cheverly, Md. on February 22, 1954 to Marion and the late George Behneman of Hyattsville, Md. One of eleven children, Martha loved animals and books and gravitated towards the open spaces of the country, preferring farm life to suburban life. She married James McGrath of Kensington, Md. on March 1, 1980 during a snowstorm and resided on an old tobacco farm near LaPlata, Md. for almost fourteen years. After deciding LaPlata was becoming too crowded, Martha, James and family packed up and moved to West Virginia. Martha just passed the thirty-two year mark living on her little farm in Deer Run where she had pursued so many interests while helping to raise her children. Some of her many interests besides reading and animals included gardening, sewing, crafts, and tie dyeing which she taught at 4-H camp for a number of years. She also was one of the founding members of the American Coopworth Registry representing Coopworth sheep herders across the U.S. and served as the organization's president for a number of years. Martha built her own website and sold Coopworth wool products to hand spinners and crafters from all over. She also loved being a 4-H volunteer working with the younger children. Surviving are: husband James of Deer Run; five children: son Daniel and wife Ellen of Idaho Falls, Id., daughter Erin and husband Francis of Asheville, N.C., son Owen of Morgantown, W.V., son Kevin of Oliver, Pa., son Callum of Winston-Salem, N.C.; three grandchildren: Kathleen, Lillian and Emma. Surviving sisters are: Cecile Behneman of Danville, Ca., Anne Behneman of University Park, Md., Mary Behneman of Potomac Falls, Va., Beth Behneman Flood of Ashburn, Va., Madalyn Behneman of Purcellville, Va. Surviving Brothers are: Mark Behneman of Baltimore, Md. and Ralph Behneman of Purcellville, Va. Preceding Martha in death were a sister Kathleen Behneman and brothers Carl and Paul Behneman.

Martha's body has been cremated and the family will hold a private commemoration of her life. Condolences may be shared at Basagic.com. In lieu of memorial contributions, Martha may be honored by acts of kindness to make this world a better place.