Martha Louise Hayward

Our beloved Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Great Great Grandma, Aunt and friend passed away peacefully in her home of 70 years on March 1, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. She was 96 years old.

Mart was born and raised in Spokane and attended North Central HS. When she was 16 she met the love of her life, Bert. They married on Jan. 29, 1940 and had 64 years together filled with love and happiness. Bert passed away in 2004 and it fills our sad hearts with happiness to know that they are together again. Mart worked various jobs in her earlier years but being a homemaker was her greatest attribute. She loved caring and doing for others, it made her so happy! She was a hard working person, who wasn’t afraid to try anything. In fact when she and Bert were building their home, she helped with the sheet rock, painting and building. She had many talents; sewing, quilting, cooking, hair cutting, baking etc. She will always be remembered for her amazing cookies; both Christmas tree cookies and her BIG birthday cookies. They were made from scratch and hand decorated with love for many family and friends throughout the years!

Bert and Mart enjoyed square dancing in their younger years, making many lifelong friends along the way. Mart spent hours sewing her outfits, and also making her cinnamon rolls to share with everyone. They also enjoyed many years of camping at places like Indian Creek, Keller’s Ferry and CocaLala Lake. They camped with a large group of friends, again making life time friends and memories. In the early 1970’s they purchased lake property at Deep Lake and together built a beautiful lake home. They spent nearly every weekend up there with family and we are all so blessed for this and the memories that we will have for a lifetime. After selling the lake home, their adventures took them to many places in their motor home; The Oregon Coast, Branson, Pigeon Forge TN, and many other states that they always wanted to see. They both enjoyed traveling, seeing new places and spending quality time together. Marts greatest joy in life was her family! Holidays and birthday dinners were always hosted by her, and she was the “Hostess with the Mostest”! She could cook for 2 or 20, and never left out any detail. We will always have our memories of our times together!

Mart was a wise and wonderful woman, so strong and beautiful inside and out, full of grace and dignity, always there to listen, give advice if requested, (or sometimes if not requested) but always in a way that was kind, caring and loving, as she always wanted the best for everyone! And actually most of the time, her advice was correct and just what you needed to hear. She always greeted you with her sweet smile and a warm hug! She loved unconditionally, and taught us to be kind, fair, honest, and most of all to be FAMILY!

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Enid Strang, Frances Oien and brother Ray Mohney, many cherished friends and other family, and the love of her life, Bert.

She is survived by her children, Sandi Greene (Art), Rick Hayward (Shirley), grandkids Carrie Gibbons (Reece), Steve Greene, Chris Hayward, Jennifer Kalmbach (Jeremy), Dan Hayward (Sarah), Jeff Hayward, great grandkids; Danni, Ben, Sammi, Lucy, Henry, Sedona and Boston; great-great grandkids Austynn, Rilynn and Josie, and many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.

I want to thank all our family who have helped along the way to make sure Gram was taken care of, and in her home where she wanted to be always. A big thank you to family members who made trips over to visit with Gram, she dearly loved those visits! Thank you to Toni for making trips to the house to do Grams nails, and to Polly who always made Gram beautiful by doing her hair. Special thanks to Reece who was always there for Gram, taking her to her hair appointments, for ice-cream at DQ, for making her laugh, and loving her like his own G’ma. I also want to thank Dr. Gordon Decker who cared for Gram for years before his retirement; he was always there for her, and often made house calls. Very special thanks to those who were so kind and caring during the last few weeks of Grams life; Dr. Melissa Quisano, Karen and Amber, the amazing nurses at SHMC, both on the floor and in the ER, and to the special caring nurses at VNA.

We are all going to miss Gram SO VERY MUCH. We were so blessed to have her in our lives for 96 years! She would often say “The first 100 years are the hardest”. You almost made it Gram! Thank you for all the love, memories, and lessons that you have given to all of us! You are gone but not forgotten! We love you forever and always!