Martha Joyce Brinkley

Martha Joyce (Brown) Brinkley, aged 88 years, passed away peacefully on 30 July 2024, at her home in Monroe, WA. She was born on 28 February 1936, in St. Helens, Oregon, to Charles Vail Brown and Harelia Alice (DeWitt) Brown. Marty is survived by her brother, Charles Richard Brown of Yuma, AZ and her children, Sandra Kay (Neal) Gifford of Hurricane, UT and Michael Ray (Julie) Brinkley of Monroe, WA. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Daniel Steven (Theresa) Judkins, Brian Keith Judkins, Jennifer Annalise (Drew) Taylor, Derrick Craig Judkins, Alexander Ray (Angie) Brinkley, Christopher Michael Brinkley, and Ashlee Michelle Brinkley. She has eight great grandchildren. Preceded in death by her eternal companion, Herman Ray Brinkley; her parents, Charles & Alice Brown; and her brothers, Harold Edward DeWitt, Elmer Clyde Brown, and Roger Harley Brown.

Marty graduated from Bellevue High School in Bellevue, WA. She also attended Bellevue Community College after her children were grown. She had an excellent memory and was especially good with numbers and could remember significant dates and exactly what happened on those days.

Marty enjoyed skating at Vasa Park Skating Rink. One day she saw a cute soldier hanging to the side of the rink trying to stay up. As he was struggling, she watched a little girl skate by and stick her tongue out at him. After that, the soldier asked her to sit with him and have a soda. That was the start of their relationship. One day she remembered him standing in front of the oil heater in her house in Bellevue.

She walked up to give him a kiss and he said, “Do you love me?” “Yes,” she replied. “Enough to marry me?” “Yes!” She replied. Marty married Ray on the 19th of June 1954 in Bellevue, WA, the day after her high school graduation. They started their married lives on Bainbridge Island in a little house on a bank above the water. One time, Marty saw a submarine from her kitchen window! In time, they had two beautiful children, Sandy and Mike, who were both born in the little tiny Kirkland hospital.

When Marty was 14 yrs old and living with her cousins in Butte, Montana she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was inactive for many years, but became active when her husband, Ray, joined the church in 1961. On 20 June 1967 Marty, Ray, Sandy and Mike were sealed as a family in the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many capacities over the course of her life, including Young Women’s Teacher and Ward Camp Director, member of the Activities Committee, Relief Society Homemaking Leader and Secretary, Genealogy Worker, Name Extraction Worker and Temple Worker. She helped to compile the Kirkland Second Ward History which was a major undertaking. She was also an Assistant Girl Scout Leader in the community for several years.

Marty was employed by American Hospital Supply Corporation (which was later acquired by Baxter Hospital Supply) from 1967 until 1990. She started in their warehouse and was later moved into the office working with salespeople and procurement. She retired from Baxter to take care of her husband as he battled cancer from Aug 1990 until his death on 19 December 1991.

Marty lived in many places, multiple times including: St Helens, Vernonia, and North Powder, Oregon; Butte, Montana; and Seattle, Tumwater, Bellevue, Bainbridge Island, Kirkland and Monroe, Washington. She enjoyed many hobbies including sewing, crocheting, ceramics, and most recently quilting. She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren before her death. Her children had the unique opportunity of caring for her in her home over the last year and a half. A special appreciation is extended to the wonderful people from Evergreen Hospice who visited and helped care for her during this time. Marty’s Funeral will be broadcast on Zoom for those who are unable to attend in person. The link is

Topic: Martha Brinkley Funeral Service

Time: Aug 10, 2024 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US

and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/98128243655?

pwd=ja876pVppY0E55N9hfhCSsHDayrXNg.1

Meeting ID: 981 2824 3655

Passcode: 980586

A visitation for Martha will be held Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 17332 Tester Rd, Monroe, WA 98272, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospital.