Joela Ann (Guyton) Martin

Joela Ann (Guyton) Martin of Erie, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away at home surrounded by her family at the age of 86 on Wednesday July 1, 2026. Joela was born on May 12, 1940 in Oil City, PA to Joeseph Andrew Guyton and Lavonne Helen (Kane) Guyton.

Joela grew up in Oil City, Pa. She attended St. Stephens grade school and Oil City High School and was a member of St. Stephens RC Church. In 1959 she met her future husband John (Jack) T. Martin (also from Oil City), they were married in May 1961. She resided in Clarion, before moving to Erie, with her husband and family in 1969. She was a member of Our Lady of Peace RC Church, and she formerly worked for Verizon, JC Penney, First National Bank of PA and was a Avon representative for many years.

Joela loved spring and summer with the emergence of flowers and the return of the birds that would come to visit her bird feeder, she loved animals. She loved the holidays and family gatherings, she said it reminded her of when she was young. She was also an avid collector of cow décor which she had throughout her house. She enjoyed time with her family, visiting friends, and luncheon-dinners with her former co-workers and friends from JC penny and Verizon over the years. Joela was a ‘social butterfly’ and could make friends with anyone in a short time, all those she would meet grew to adore her and always looked forward to seeing her. Joela always saw the good and smiled, she never saw the bad, no matter what life threw at her over the years.

She taught her boys what her mother taught her: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.

Joela was an amazing and loving Mother and Grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Her presence was like no other.

She is survived by her five sons: John C. and Nancy of Erie, Thomas P. and Brenda of Conneautville, Patrick J. and Jill of Lancaster, Daniel N. and Julie of Fairview, and Kevin of Erie. She is further survived by her brothers and sisters: Sherry Thomas, Pamela and Allen Fogg, Christine and Robert Shattenburg, T.J. Guyton, and David and Barbara Guyton; her grandchildren: Ryan, Jade, Jared, Saraya, Matthew, Owen and Genie; An aunt, Teresa Guyton; sisters-in-law, Judy Leupold and Joan McCadden, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was proceeded in death by her husband, John (Jack) T. Martin of 46 years; a brother-in-law, Brian Thomas; a sister-in-law, Kay Guyton; a nephew, Drew Guyton, and her cousin, Sandra Goreczny, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Friends may call at Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Inc., West Ridge, 3801 W. 26th St., Erie on Thursday July 9, 2026 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm and are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Friday July 10, 2026 at 10:00 am in Our Lady of Peace RC Church, 2401 West 38th St., Erie. Burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to: Mercy Center for Women or The Anna Shelter 

A special thanks to Interim Healthcare Hospice, her Nurse Jordan and her care takers Dawn Popovich, Jess Keeney, and to Lisa Donikowski for making special memories with her early on.

Send condolences to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com