Martha "Marty" Jean Herdener

Martha J. “Marty” Herdener, age 81, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026. Born on September 15,1944 in Portland, Oregon, to Jean and Elman Johnson, Marty was raised in Milwaukie, Oregon, where she attended Milwaukie Elementary, Milwaukie Junior High, and Milwaukie High School. She went on to attend Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, now known as Western Oregon University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

Marty married the love of her life, Michael C. Herdener, on August 19, 1967, at Temple Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon. Their love story began long before they officially met. They attended neighboring high schools, and Mike was even a neighbor of Marty’s grandparents. He had seen photographs of her, but their paths never quite crossed. It wasn’t until Marty was home from college and attending youth group at Temple Baptist Church that they finally met—and the rest became a beautiful life together.

Marty devoted much of her life to education and to the students she loved. She began her teaching career at Central High in Independence, Oregon. She later served for six years as an administrative assistant in the Education Department at Clark College. In 1987, she returned to the classroom as a Language Arts teacher at Centennial Middle School, where she taught until her retirement in 2006.

Marty was a teacher who made a lasting impression. Her students loved her, and many years after leaving her classroom, former students would run into Marty and eagerly share stories of their school days. Time and again, they told her that she had been their favorite teacher. Her influence extended far beyond the classroom, and the memories she created with her students remained with them throughout their lives.

Faith and community were also important parts of Marty’s life. Over the years, she was involved with Monmouth First Baptist Church, Missionary Alliance Church in Salem, Milwaukie Covenant Church, Temple Baptist Church in Portland, Damascus Community Church, and Clackamas Bible Church.

Marty loved reading and writing, especially children’s books. But perhaps the best way to describe Marty was simply this: she was the most fun person you could know. She had a wonderful sense of humor, knew how to have fun, and brought laughter and joy to the people around her. She was a caring friend to many, a dedicated teacher to her students, and, above all, a super mom, grandma, and great-grandma.

Marty is survived by her beloved husband, Mike; her son, Scott; her daughter, Tanya Anderson; her grandchildren, Kaylee, Gunnar, Andrew, and Zachary; and her great-grandchildren, Ellie, Tucker, Daisy, and Bo. She leaves behind a lifetime of love, laughter, friendships, memories, and people whose lives were made better simply because she was part of them.

Marty will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for her generous heart, wonderful sense of humor, dedication to others, and the joy she brought to her family, friends, and students.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Marty’s memory to make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Hospitals for Children.

A memorial service celebrating Marty’s life will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Clackamas Bible Church, 15655 SE Johnson Rd, Clackamas, OR 97015.