Martha "Martie" Howard Collett was born on April 22, 1915 in Nephi, Utah to George E. and Charlotte Adams Howard. She graduated from Nephi High School in 1933, and received an associates degree from Snow College in 1935. She received her bachelor in English and education in 1966 and masters degrees in Education in 1972 at Utah State University. She married Farrell Collett in July 1940 in Manti, and they had two children.

Martie was a librarian at the age of 19 at Madison High School in Rexburg, Idaho. In 1960, she organized a library in the new Bonneville High School in Ogden, Utah, and was there until 1965. She became an instructor of library science at Weber State College in 1965 and was promoted to assistant professor in 1969. Martie became the founding curator of Special Collections in 1971, in conjuction with the Howell Library. She became a full professor in 1977.

Martie served on more than 45 state committees, three national committees, and served on numerous councils and committees at Weber State College. She was president of the Utah Library Association school section. She lectured and consulted at professional conferences in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. Martie was awarded the distinguished service award fro librarianship in higher education from the Utah Library Association in 1975. In 1976 she received the Cortez Faculty Award for creativity of the Howell Library and Special Collections. She received the Vardis Fisher Memorial Award from the Western Literature Conference in 1976. She has also received the Utah Education Library Media Association Professional Service Award and YWCA nominee award for women in education

Following retirement, Martie and Farrell Collett moved to St. George, Utah. Martie passed away on December 27, 2009.