Martin, Esther Jeanette
Esther Jeanette Martin, 91, of Everett, died peacefully at home on June 17, 2010. She was born March 26, 1919 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania to Jacob and Mary Holt. She was the youngest of six children. She was raised in Girardville, PA. After graduating from Girardville High School she attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA where she became a registered nurse.
Following college she joined two bothers, Al and Jake, and an uncle, Leigh, in Seattle, WA where she worked as a RN at Swedish Hospital. While Esther was living in a Seattle guest house a roommate introduced her to James Martin, a Boeing employee, and they began dating, often going dancing which Esther loved. Esther and Jim were married in 1946 at the North Broadway Methodist Church of Seattle.
Their first home was in Port Angeles, WA where Jim worked for Port Angeles City Light. Esther and Jim's first two daughters, Pam and Becky, were born before the family relocated to Mount Vernon, WA. In 1950 Esther and Jim moved to Everett when they bought Evergreen Building Supply. Eventually, after significant growth, the family business, renamed Martin Lumber and Hardware, moved to its present location on Broadway in Everett.
In Everett Esther and Jim had two more daughters, Mary Ellen and Jeanie. For the next several years Esther dedicated her life to raising her daughters while helping Jim establish the family business. In 1960 they built the current family home in North Everett. After her children reached school age Esther returned to work as a RN for oral surgeons in Everett's Medical Dental Building.
She enjoyed family vacations and, after her children had grown, international travel with family and friends. Esther had many close friends in Everett who provided important social life and support. A member of the First United Methodist Church, she was active in the women's church circle. She was also a member of PEO, Chapter AL.
In the mid 1980s Esther and Jim bought a beach house in Langley, WA. She loved beach life and the Langley home became the focal point of family life. Esther took great pride in her daughters # their families and their accomplishments. She was especially happy when the family would gather at the beach house or at home to enjoy her wonderful cooking. She loved good food and was a great story teller. When her daughters and their families would visit she enjoyed both.
Esther spent fifty years in the family home she and Jim built together and died there.
In addition to her husband Jim in Everett, she is survived by her children, Pam Berry and Richard, of Pullman, WA, Becky McLemore, of Everett, Mary Ellen Rundell and John, of Cashmere, WA, and Jeanie Coleman and Dan, of Everett; her grandchildren, Sean Berry, of Brooklyn, NY, Jason Berry and Lacey, of Auburn, WA, Micaiah McLemore and Leslie, of Seattle, Susanna Cronen and Kelbe, of Portland, OR, Matt McLemore, of Everett, Levi Rundell, of Seattle, Adrian Pfeil and John, of Woodinville, WA, Danielle Coleman, of Hattiesburg, MS, Paige Coleman, of Pullman; and great-grandchildren, Conley and Cate Cronen, Malibu Pfeil and Lola Berry.
She was preceded in death by sisters, Mary and Rebecca Holt; and three brothers, Leigh, Albert and Jacob Holt.
A memorial service and reception will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 2, 2010, at First United Methodist Church of Everett, 3530 Colby Ave., Everett, WA 98201.
The family will gather for interment at the Langley Woodmen Cemetery on the weekend.
The family suggests memorials may be made to Esther's church.
Published in The Herald (Everett) from June 23 to July 1, 2010