Faye Ardith (Seick) Martin's Obituary
Faye Ardith (Seick) Martin passed away peacefully at home, her husband Jerry by her side, Sunday July 27, 2014. She was 81.
Faye was born January 5, 1933, in Craig, Colorado, the 8th of nine children to Anna Gertrude (Zion) and Marion Arthur Seick.
Her grandparents were Charlotte Theadora (Phelps) & Ferdinand Ludwic Seick and Rachel Ann (Phelps) & Jonathan Adam Zion. Both Faye’s parents and grandparents homesteaded in Moffatt County in Northwestern Colorado.
Faye's childhood home in Craig was on land bordered by Fortification Creek. There, along the creek bank, Faye's faith, love of family and gift of imagination took seed and blossomed. Faye attended the First Christian Church in Craig as a child. The Marion Seick Family, including 9-year-old Faye, moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1942.
Once in Tacoma, Faye attended Sheridan Elementary School, Stewart Junior High and Lincoln High School, from which she graduated in 1951. Upon graduation from Lincoln, Faye headed to San Jose, California to attend San Jose Bible College.
On her return to Tacoma in 1955 from San Jose, Faye met the love of her life, Jerald (Jerry) Gleason Martin, Jr., son or Dora Belle (Lynch) and Jerald Gleason Martin, Sr. Faye and Jerry married at McKinley Park Christian Church on September 22, 1956. They honeymooned at Lake Chelan. On their honeymoon, Faye and Jerry rode the Lady of the Lake passenger ferry to Stehekin and toured the Aplets & Cotlets candy factory in Cashmere, Washington. Every anniversary thereafter they exchanged boxes of Aplets & Cotlets.
Faye and Jerry raised three boys – Jerry (Julie), Tim (Kim) and Mark (Jana). Somewhere along the way Brenda Justin became the daughter they never had. Next came grandchildren - Jerry IV (Emma), Christopher (Jocelyn), Nicholas and Catherine to son Jerry (and mom Kerrie); Max, Gust and Stella to son Tim; and Jacob to son Mark – along with four great-grandchildren: Chelsea, Leighton, William and Melody. Roberta Justin and her son Jordan and Sierra and Alexandra Bede loved Faye as their grandma; she loved them each in return.
Faye and Jerry were members of McKinley Park Christian Church, and later First Christian Church in Tacoma.
Faye attended nursing school when her three young sons were in elementary school, graduating in 1969. She worked many years as a critical care nurse at Tacoma General Hospital. After retiring from Tacoma General, Faye delighted in nurturing a number of babes at her in-home daycare.
Faye and her husband Jerry did everything together. Her interests were his, and vice versa. Together they enjoyed 57-plus years of camping, playing games, entertaining family and friends and traveling with family to Europe, Australia, Canada and throughout the Northwest. At home, Faye was rarely without a pet on her lap – she loved dogs and cats and the birds that Jerry attracted to their backyard. She also loved supporting Jerry as he tended to his roses and brought her bouquets to arrange about the house. Later in life, little made Faye happier than slumber parties with her sister Bessie and the nieces who were among her best friends.
Faye dearly loved and looked up to all her brothers and sisters, along with their husbands and wives and her in-laws through Jerry’s side of the family. Throughout her life, Faye honored as a hero her older
brother Marion Adam (Ad), lost in 1944 at age 20 during World War II. Faye’s other siblings were Margaret Shelton (Jim), Glenn (Caro), Doris Stephen (Alexander), Gerald (June; Jeanne), Raymond (Evelyn), Bessie Lagasse (Hector), and Ferd (Mary). She is survived by husband Jerry; her children and grandchildren; her sister Bessie, brother Raymond and his wife Evelyn, brother Ferd and his wife Mary; by sisters-in-law Naomi Wilson and Lorraine Martin; and by dozens of loving nieces and nephews, each one of whom had a very special and unique place in Faye’s heart.
From an early age, Faye loved and memorized poetry and scripture. When asked her favorite bible verse, Faye was quick to reply Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.”
The family is extremely grateful to Mary Muthemba and to Pastor Jana, Cathy Ettinger and the dedicated team at MultiCare Hospice for their care and support of both dad and mom over an extended period of time.
A Celebration of Faye’s wonderful life and its positive influence on family and friends will be held: Saturday, August 2, 11:00-1:00 PM at the home of Tim and Kim Martin, 3140 Maringo Road SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Faye’s nephew, Pastor Marion Seick, will officiate. All are welcome.
What’s your fondest memory of Faye?
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Share a story where Faye's kindness touched your heart.
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