Martha M. (Roberts) Arnold, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026, at her beloved desert home overlooking the rugged Rowe wash in the town of Cave reek, Arizona. Martha was born at home on August 11, 1933, to a rural farming family from Buckheart Township. She was the first born child of Charity Murlea (Carter) Roberts and William Meredith Roberts Martha and her three children moved to the small rural community of Cave Creek in 1967, when her first husband, Lt. Col. James D. Brecher, ret., USAF was assigned to Vietnam. Martha met her husband, known as Jack, when he moved to Carefree, AZ after owning a successful road and bridge building company in Eau Claire, WI. Graduating in 1954 from the Nursing School at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Martha began her career wearing the RN’s traditional starched white dress, cap, blue cape and continued caring for patients for the next 27 years. In 1973, she helped establish Cave Creek’s first medical clinic. In 1987, Martha began a new career as a realtor with Russ Lyon Realty, Carefree, AZ. She remained at Russ Lyon for 32 years until retiring in 2019. Martha was regarded an office leader and regulatory expert in Arizona’s ever changing and growing landscape. She was a member of the Black Mountain Mothers Club, Charter Member of the Board of Trustees for Humana Hospital Desert Valley, served on the Maricopa County Board of Adjustments and was a local Republican Precinct Committee representative. Martha Mae Roberts Arnold set an example, challenged others, and displayed a fierce strength and independence in a long life of adventure, work and volunteerism. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered as a loving parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, remarkable unique friend and fellow life traveler. Martha was preceded in death by husband, John E. Arnold (1986), son, James Gregory Brecher (2010) and daughter, Tara Beth Brecher (2012). Martha is survived by: daughter-Alisa G. Oujiri (Steve), daughter-in law-Rebecca S. Brecher, grandchildren-Ghislaine M. Gilbert (Aaron), James M. Brecher (Jacqueline), Benjaman N. Brecher, Callie N. Brecher (Matthew Runkle), great grandchildren-Logan, Annabelle, Vivienne, Shya, Madison and Hunter. A celebration of life will be held at the Desert Mission United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 am, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Cave Creek Museum, PO Box 1, Cave Creek, AZ 85327 or the Desert Mission United Methodist Church at 7373 E. Dixileta Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85266-2258.
