Martha Evelyn Cullers

August 15, 1919 – February 12, 2013

Martha E. Cullers, 93, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2013 in Hermiston Oregon with her sons and family by her side.

Martha Evelyn Hansen was born to Norwegian immigrants Nicolay and Martha DeLange Hansen in the small fishing village of Chinook, Washington at the mouth of the Columbia River. She grew up in their family home on Bakers Bay in Chinook with one sister and six brothers. She attended Chinook grade school and graduated from Ilwaco High School in 1937. She was the class Salutatorian and addressed the class and attendees at her graduation ceremony.

Martha married Chester A. Cullers, a soldier at Fort Stevens Washington on December 26, 1938 at the courthouse in South Bend Washington. They settled in Astoria Oregon where their first two sons, Chester and Robert, were born. They moved to Portland Oregon in 1943 where their son Fred was born and then to Pendleton Oregon in 1946 where sons Roger and Jerry were born. Martha worked at The Pendleton Woolen Mill and in Canneries while in Pendleton, although her biggest job was raising her sons. In 1954 they moved to Hermiston Oregon where Martha’s husband, Chet, delivered milk for Mayflower Milk Company and her first three sons graduated from High School. In 1962 Martha and Chet, moved to Renton, Washington where Chet worked for The Boeing Aircraft Company and then for Pacific Car and Foundry Company from where he retired. Chet died in 1989. They were married for 50 years. Martha continued to live in their home in the Kennydale neighborhood of Renton Washington until November of 2012.

Martha was a warm and generous lady never judging, always showing compassion for those around her and for those who were going through hard times. She loved her family very much and spent many weekends with them camping and fishing in the mountains and digging clams at the beach. She had a gift for writing stories, songs and music, and playing the piano. She loved to play her music and tell her stories for her family and friends. During later years she enjoyed telling her family stories from her childhood in Chinook Washington, about her Mom, Dad, Sister, and Brothers. She said two of the highlights of her life were going on a Caribbean Cruise with her 4 sons and their wives and an Alaska Cruise with her sister and 2 Brothers with their wives. She rarely lost at her favorite game, Scrabble, much to the chagrin of her opponents. She still played scrabble (and won) up until two weeks of her passing.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Chester Ausker Cullers, her son Roger Wayne Cullers, her brothers Nicolay Hansen, Bernt Hansen, Walter Hansen, Trygve Hansen, Norman Hansen, Sig Hansen, Sister Erna Hansen Humphreys Schaefer, and Daughter in Law Patricia Cullers.

She is survived by four sons: Chester L. Cullers (Angela) Renton Washington, Robert E. Cullers, Elma Washington, Fred D. Cullers (Bev) and Jerry E Cullers (Tina) of Hermiston Oregon. Fourteen grandchildren: Elisabeth Hansen, Federal Way Washington, Chester David Cullers and Kristine Childs of Renton Washington, Joseph Dan Cullers, Kent Washington, Scott Cullers and Eva Harris of Elma Washington, Kelly Wilcox, Puyallup Washington, Chelsea Cullers and Chris Cullers of Phoenix Arizona, Jennifer Cullers, Maple Valley Washington, Shelly Kinnick, Sherri Garcia, Justin Estes and Thad Estes of Hermiston Oregon, 22 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held 10:00am to 4:00 pm Sunday February 24, 2013 with Funeral Service 1:30 PM Monday both at Greenwood Funeral Home in Renton

We will all miss her dearly.