Martha Jane Thatcher's Obituary
Martha Jane Thatcher went home to be with the Lord on November 13, 2019. She was 91. Martha Jane Thatcher was born in Craig, Alaska to the late Charles I. and Geneva J. Rice on December 15, 1927. She was very small at three and a half pounds. She loved to tell the story of how she was kept warm near an oven on a floating house boat. She was the oldest of three sisters, two who preceded her in death, Birdie Jean Allen and Mollie Anne Rice.
Martha is survived by the love of her life, Charles M. Thatcher, her husband of 70 years. They were married on June 2, 1949 in Ketchikan, Alaska. He has said that she was a faithful companion, a true friend during their years together. She is also survived by three children, Steven Charles Thatcher (wife Sandy), Kathleen Louise Voie (husband Edward), and Virginia June Marlin (husband Richard). The other loves of Martha's life were her grandchildren: Meredith Ginn, Sally Voie, Christa Bergquist, Molly Voie, James Nutter, Lisa Schultz, and Jason Redmond, as well as her twelve great grandchildren.
Martha was lovingly known as Nurse Jane to all the neighborhood children. She would fix the cuts and hug away their hurts. Martha has the ability to attract people to her. Her friends of many years, Diane Hockenbery, her partner in crime, with whom she created shared her love of dogs, card games, and watching soap operas in the afternoon, Nancy Kercher, who was her morning coffee and bowling friend, and Corky Margeson another morning coffee buddy, with whom she created wonderful crafts for herself and others. And Betty McCarthy, who babysat her children when she was working; when she came to visit, would say, "Martha, I came to see you not your house."
Martha worked in the laundries in at Fort Lewis during WWII, then in Ketchikan, and during her early married life in Tacoma, WA. She went on to become a homemaker. In her later years, she worked at Bethany Open Bible in the church nursery for 10 years before retiring at 65.
Martha's favorite hobby was embroidery. She made many gifts for her family and friends through the years. Her one beloved gift for her family and friends was to make a sequined calendar every year. She loved to read books, do word searches, puzzles, and read magazines. Martha had a life long love affair with teddy bears. She loved to collect any kind of bear she could find. Her family knew that a teddy bear was the perfect gift for any occasion.
Martha loved to travel in a little coach motor home with her husband, Charles and favorite dog, Missy. They traveled all over the United States having many cherished memories.
Martha will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Rest in peace, well done, thou good and faithful servant.
There will be service at Mountain View Funeral Home Aspen Chapel, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW in Lakewood, WA 98499 on Monday November 18, 2019. Reception to follow. Please com and celebrate her life with us.
A special thank you to Michael and Jane Mbito, their staff at Trusted Care for making Martha's final days filled with compassion and care.
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