Martha Baldwin Reilly, known to all who loved her as “Boonie”, died peacefully October 26 with her family by her side. A resident of Winnetka and Northfield for 44 years, she is best remembered as a lady of spirit, compassion, and a lifelong dedication to those qualities she held so dear – family and giving to others. She was born at her grandmother’s home in Paris, KY, on April 10, 1924, the youngest of five children of Grover and Gladys Baldwin. She was named Martha after her two grandmothers and given the middle name Boone after her father’s brother Boone Baldwin from Virginia, one of her favorite uncles. She quickly earned the nickname “Boonie”, somehow fitting for a little girl growing up during the depression among the lush green hills and famous Kentucky thoroughbred horse farms which surrounded her bluegrass family home. She was raised in Paris where her father owned several local businesses, commercial real estate and a farm on the outskirts of town where he grew tobacco. As a young girl, she loved horseback riding and was known to jump from the top of the barn on to her favorite horse, Stacey. Her grandfather raised and trained trotting horses and in 1928 named one of them MARTHA BOONE, the name then registered and certified by the American Trotting Association. After graduating from Paris High school in 1942, she graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and then ventured north to attend Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Economics. She met her husband, Robert Dunham Reilly, at Northwestern after he returned from naval service in the Second World War. They were married at the family church in Paris in 1947 and shortly after the wedding moved to Baltimore, MD. The Reilly family grew over the next decade with the arrival of daughter Martha and sons Robert Jr. and John. In 1962 they moved to Winnetka, her husband’s hometown. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Boonie immersed her children in the arts, reading, music, and foreign language; was actively involved in their school activities, and developed an uncanny knack of flawlessly managing five individual family member schedules. As her children advanced through high school and college, Boonie found great enjoyment in devoting her free time to volunteer with the Evanston Hospital Auxiliary and at Christ Church in Winnetka. She loved Christmas and every year made candy which she delivered to friends, acquaintances and anyone who had helped her in the community. Her kindness and generosity will be remembered by many. Boonie was always an avid reader, frequently reading several novels a week. After her children had grown, she and her husband pursued a mutual passion for travel. Her enduring spirit was challenged when she suffered a severe brain aneurysm in 1984. Undaunted, she staged a remarkable recovery and continued her travels well into her later years. One of their many international trips was around the world with a stop to visit her son who was on military duty in Bahrain. Over the past two years, Boonie valiantly faced her last battle, a series of medical complications following emergency surgery, with determination and grace. She passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loving husband and family. Her family, in which she had great pride, was most important in her life. She will be greatly missed by Robert, her husband of 59 years; daughter Martha Reilly Smith and her husband Scott; son Rear Admiral Robert Dunham Reilly Jr., United States Navy, and his wife Carrie; son John Baldwin Reilly and his wife Linda; and grandchildren Carolyn Henderson, Thomas Smith, and Katie, Hope and Holly Reilly. Following private interment, a memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, at Christ Church, 784 Sheridan Rd., Winnetka. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center, 2050 Claire Ct., Glenview, IL 60025, or Berea College, CPO 2216, Berea, KY, 40404.
