Martha L. Bouzis

Martha Louise Bouzis 

Martha Louise Bouzis, age 90, of Casper, Wyoming passed away peacefully at Banner Health Medical Center on March 1, 2024 surrounded by her family. Martha was born on October 7, 1933 in Prague, Oklahoma to Robert Hoggatt and Cleora Katherine Hoggatt. She was the youngest of five children, sibling to Elmer Hoggatt, Oleta Hoggatt, Alvin Hoggatt, and Rowena Hoggatt.  

Martha attended elementary, middle, and high school in Stroud, Oklahoma, graduating high school in 1950. While in high school, she played basketball, softball, was a drum majorette with the marching band and she was also the local Future Farmers of America (FAA) chapter Queen. 

In 1955, Martha spent the summer in Casper, Wyoming to visit her aunt and uncle. There, she worked at the Red and White café, and one fateful night she met Michael “Mike” John Bouzis, who, having been struck by love at first sight, gathered his courage and the following evening returned to the café where she worked, and asked her “can I take you on a date tonight, tomorrow night, the next night too, and every night after that?” They fell in love and married on August 29, 1955 in Oklahoma and then settled in Casper, Wyoming. Martha served as a supportive wife and true partner in life to Mike, as exemplified by every evening’s quiet conversations together that stretched from when he came home until long after their children had gone to bed. Her gift for communication and listening also blessed her children and friends, to whom she provided a listening ear and patient advice. Martha was a diligent and skilled homemaker. She loved gardening and especially roses, she also loved cooking and making delicious meals, and welcomed all into her home, particularly for the holidays, in which her diligence even extended to extraordinarily wrapped Christmas packages under the tree. Martha used her sewing and knitting talents to produce home décor and beautiful clothing, ensuring her two young daughters were always dressed to the nines.

Martha had vast interests and many talents. The Casper Country Club was almost the couple’s second home, where she won many tournaments and usually beat her husband when they played as a couple. Her athleticism extended to other sports as well; she enjoyed swimming and water skiing in the summer at Alcova on the family’s boat and snow skiing in the winter on Casper Mountain. She and Mike enjoyed bowling and dancing, reflecting the great love between them. She also enjoyed oil painting and some of her paintings are hanging in her family’s homes today. Martha was a devout Christian and member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, where she was a member of the Ladies Philoptochos, a charitable ladies society. Her charity extended beyond the church; throughout her life she provided guidance and counsel to those who needed it in their time of crisis.  Martha diligently worked throughout her life, creating a loving home for her family and later when her children were older, she ventured out and worked part time at J'Cor Gift Shop and later Lou Taubert’s, in Casper, Wy. 

Martha is survived by her three children, Michael John Bouzis II, Stacy Ann Root, and Michelle Louise Bouzis as well as her five grandchildren Brandon Walford, Alisa Shepard, Kathleen Bouzis, Sophia Bouzis, and Harrison Root and many great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1992, and her siblings and parents. 

In lieu of flowers, her family has requested that memorials be sent to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Casper.