Mary Josephine Marten

Mary J. Marten, 78, of Port Orchard passed away at Silverdale St. Michael’s Hospital from acute kidney failure. She was Anointed on Friday 26, by Father Ninevah from Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton.

She was born in Milaca Minnesota, to Russell and Marian (Eli) Eckstrom. She attended O’Neal school from 1952-1956, a one room school with one boy and herself in the same grade, which was the same school her Great Grandparents Hjalmer and Mable (Adamson) Eli attended.

In April 1957, Her family left their farm in Redwing MN. and moved to Port Orchard Washington. Mary attended Pleasant Valley grade School, Marcus Whitman Jr High and graduated from South Kitsap High School in June 1965. She went to work for a contact lens company in Seattle.

She married Virgil Lee Marten at St. Gabriel's Church on April 18, 1967 and in June moved to St. Johns, Michigan. They had four girls before moving back to Manchester Washington in June of 1981.

She worked at Forest Ridge Convalescent Center as a Cook from Sept 1981-2010 where she retired and stared caring for her mother.

Mary was a kind lady who enjoyed sewing, making quilts, reading books, playing cards, and Yahtzee with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. which gave her the title of “Yahtzee Queen’. She enjoyed spending time with family and kept her affiliation with the Catholic faith.

Survivors include four daughters, Ann Ferguson and husband Tim, Teresa Davis and partner Frank, Carrie Nielsen, Kimberly Saunders all of Port Orchard Wash.; Three brothers, Warren Eckstrom of Lynnwood, Donald Eckstrom and wife Jean of Shoreline, Russell Eckstrom of Poulsbo; two sisters, Terry Harty and husband Bill of Yelm, Wash., and Cathy George partner Jack of Silverdale; 10 grandchildren (6 boys and 4 girls) Aaron Andrews and wife Jessica, Mathew Andrews and wife Marifel, Devon Davis, Scott Ferguson and wife Danielle, Koben Nielsen, Cason Saunders; Lisha Beisley husband David, Kayla King and husband Myles, Madison Saunders-Carmody and husband Alex and Claire Nielsen; 6 Great Grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by husband Virgil, parents Russell, Marian; sister Louise Henslee and husband Willie, two nieces; Jacqueline Paulette Eckstrom and Melissa Ann Richards.

Inurnment service will be held at Sunset Lane Memorial Park in Port Orchard at 1:00 p.m on October 16, 2025 under the direction of Rill Chapel’s Life Tribute Center.