Marty Kramer, longtime resident of Langley, Anacortes, Bellingham and Ballard, beloved mother and grandmother, died peacefully Jan. 8, 2011 after a courageous fight with reoccurring pneumonia, her family at her side.
Marty was born Jan. 18, 1929 to Norwegian immigrants Fred and Laura Martinson at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. She with her siblings Stanley and Ann were raised in Ballard by their widowed mother, who each Sunday walked them for miles to Golden Gardens Park on the edge of Puget Sound to have a picnic dinner.
Marty graduated from Ballard High School in 1947 and went to work at Washington Mutual Bank, the youngest employee they had ever hired.
In the summer of 1948 while sunning at Madrona Beach on Lake Washington, she met the love of her life, Robert H. Perry, the lifeguard and future Navy swim instructor.
They married and lived throughout the Northwest: Seattle, Bellingham, Anacortes, Greenbank, Langley, Surrey, B.C. and even Palm Springs, Calif. They were partners in life and in business running several successful hotels, restaurants and a marina. They enjoyed cooking, dancing and entertaining their way through life.
They had three children, Michelle, Craig and Jill. Bob preceded Marty in death in 1985.
In 1990 she married Frank Kramer of Langley and became a part of the large Kramer clan. In 1991 she retired from managing the Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club. Marty and Frank had 13 wonderful years together living in the family home on the edge of Lone Lake, until Frank passed in 2006.
Marty was passionate about her family, friends, her animals, her SAGGERS birthday club, Ryther Child Center Leagues Mardi Group, her Democratic Party, the oncology department at Virginia Mason, her garden, birds, volunteering at Greenhill Humane Society’s Cattery in Eugene.
Survivors include her loving children Michelle Swanson (Larry George), Eugene, Ore., Craig Perry (Kim Smith), Seattle, and Jill Lovelace, Eugene, Ore.; grandsons Max Henri and Skylar Duncan Perry; sister Ann Millet, Boise, Idaho; sisters-in-law Millie Martinson, Lynnwood, and Rose Perry, Imperial Beach, Calif.; brother-in-law Toby Perry (Joan) of Blaine; numerous nieces and nephews. Her extended Kramer Family on Whidbey Island: Tom and Donna, Kenny and Kim; grandchildren Carl Comfort (Rita), Chris Kramer (Rose), Karyle Kramer (Nathan), Bree Nelson (Jordan), Kale Kramer (Megan), Lindsey Read (Brian), Christopher Taylor (Lauren), Courtney Taylor (Mike); great-grandchildren Victoria and Zachary Comfort, Bradley, Timothy and Gregory Kramer, Levi, Ranger and Pearl Buck, Kole and Brody Nelson, Abigail and Madilyn Read, Ethan and Cameron Taylor, and Taylor Janes; and her god-daughter Traci Bergsma of Freeland.
Marty was preceded in death by her brother Stan Martinson, Lynnwood; son-in-law Duffy Lovelace, San Rafael, Calif.; stepson Mick Kramer, Langley; and brother-in-law Fred Perry, Imperial Beach, Calif.
Celebrations of Marty’s Life are planned for spring in both Langley and her recently adopted hometown of Eugene.
The family requests that donations be made to Virginia Mason Medical Center’s Fund for Excellence at www.virginiamason.org; the Ryther Children’s Center League, Mardi Group at www.rytherleague.org; or the organization of your choice. Until then remember her laughter, her smile and her love of life.
