Martha Adeline Moe

Martha grew up on 35th N.E. in the home her father, Knute Strome, built with her mother, Gena, sister, Josephine, and brothers, Grant and Donald. Her final resting place is also 35th N.E./Bothell Highway at Acacia Memorial Park.

Martha attended Bryant Elementary and Roosevelt High School from where she graduated in 1942.

She married Bob Musselman on August 2, 1944. Then, due to World War II, they moved to Chicago and eventually Oakland, CA, which is where Carol was born.

Martha and Bob moved back to Seattle when Bob was stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station where they lived in the naval housing for about 5 years. They then purchased the home on 37th N.E., which her father built, and Martha lived there for 65 years until her recent passing.

Their son, Bob, was born in Seattle. Carol and Bob both attended Bryant, Nathan Eckstein Junior High and Roosevelt High School, some of the same schools as their Mom.

Martha and Bob had been married for 50 years when Bob passed away in November 1994 after a long illness with cancer.

Martha worked for an accountant many years from her dining room table and managed the books of several companies in Seattle by ledger books and old fashioned handled 10 keys and manual typewriter and eventually transitioned to electric typewriter and 10 key adding machine. She always considered getting a computer but she had so many other activities there was no time to sit her down and teach her.

About 1973, she went to work as a playground supervisor and then Head Secretary at Sand Point and Wedgwood Elementary Schools and retired from there after 20 years of service for the Seattle Public Schools.

Martha was so proud of her job at Sand Point and Wedgwood, that she recently dedicated one room in her home to some of her memorabilia. Her sister, Jo, and she painted the room lime green and she decorated it with many plaques and newspaper clippings. Recently she asked Carol to create a sign to hang on the door, which was recommended by Pastor Anderson, to say “Museum of Memories”.

The last week of her life, she made the comment to Carol that she didn’t know what she would do without her room!

In 1997, Martha bought a red four door Pontiac Grand Prix. She called Carol at work one day and asked if she should get a spoiler to go on her car. Carol asked if she knew what a spoiler was and was surprised she wanted such a racy looking car. Then Carol asked how much the spoiler was and she said about $250.00. Carol said, “I think you should get it.” She has loved that car all these years and loved the attention she got with that car. She had some maintenance done on the car in recent years, but did not have the air conditioning fixed because it “didn’t get that hot in Seattle”. So when Carol would drive her to various shopping sprees, they would roll the windows down as much as they could without messing up Martha’s hair and Carol told her they were like teenagers cruising on a hot summer day.

She thought that was pretty cool. When they went through Brown Bear Car Wash, she was so glad

Carol could do that for her, and she was glad when they came safely out the other end.

Martha met Stanley P. Moe at a voting booth and they were married on July 24, 1999 with a large wedding of about 400 guests. Bellewood Presbyterian was so full, there was standing room only. She then had a blended family of Carol, Bob, and Stan’s children, David, Wendy and Jake with whom they have made many great memories throughout the years.

Martha and Stan had the great pleasure to spend about 10 years in Indio, CA at the Happy Wanderer’s community. While in Indio, they participated in a courtyard parade and Martha made a Minnie Mouse costume to wear at Sand Point School special events. Carol recommended that Martha make a Mickey Mouse costume for Stan so they got a pattern and she adjusted it to fit him. They had many years of fun times with those costumes.

Stan passed away in November 2013. During their marriage they made many new friends and had many wonderful times together.

Martha had a beautiful gift of hospitality and enjoyed entertaining family and friends for each holiday of the year with lavish dinners and decorating her home for each holiday.

Throughout her life she loved working in her yard and buying plants from all the local nurseries. She became famous amongst family and friends for cooking and sharing her Coconut Thin cookies, peanut brittle, spaghetti and meatballs, and potato salad.

Martha loved to shop and she became known as “Month-End Martha” from the former Bon Marche’ month end sales that she did with Peggy and other friends and family. Her husband, Bob, wrote a story about her shopping events at the Bon Marche’, which is pretty entertaining.

Then Country Village became her special place to shop to fill her home with many items. In more recent years, the dollar stores and other outlet stores saw her quite often and she got to know the sales clerks well.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Martha made pajamas and shirts for family members and friends that they would receive at Christmas time. She made most of the drapes in her home to match the décor of each room.

Martha and her husbands, Bob & Stan, loved to travel. Their trips included Europe, the Holy Land, Tahiti, the US including Hawaii and Alaska. She took two cruises to Norway to see relatives, and Alaska, Panama Canal and the Greek Isles. When Martha and Stan were in Indio, CA for ten years, as snowbirds, they made many friends and had many wonderful times together. Most recently she traveled twice with Carol, Jo and Mary to Leavenworth, WA to see the outdoor theatre musical, Sound of Music. She made many beautiful photo books of all these travels.

Martha had many parties prepared for her by her daughter, Carol, and family. They were a 40th and 50th wedding anniversary party for Bob and Martha. A 75th Birthday, Queen for a Day party, an 80th Vintage Party, a 85th family party and a 90th birthday party where she wore her Queen for a Day robe again. She truly embraced all the festivities with these parties and enjoyed everyone dressing up for the occasion.

Martha’s relationship with her Lord has been forever present throughout all of her years. Most recently she was a member of Calvary Christian Assembly Church in Seattle and had previously been a member of the University Presbyterian, Laurelhurst Presbyterian and Bellewood Presbyterian Churches. She was always faithful to her many friends and family members by showing great kindness and giving of gifts whether it be something specially picked for them or cookies or peanut brittle.

On July 7, 2017, the last day in her home she climbed the stairs to tell Carol she wasn’t feeling well. (Carol was sleeping in her former bedroom because she asked her to spend the night). She then took her final walk down those stairs, arm-in-arm with Carol, so she wouldn’t fall and then called 911. About 6 good looking firemen of all ages appeared at the door and asked if she wanted to walk to the ambulance and she said “oh, yes, I can still walk”. She was whisked away to University Hospital and evaluated with low sodium and then transferred to Swedish Edmonds. On 7/14, she was sent to Ida Culver Health Care Center on Greenwood and was progressing very well for two weeks and then they thought she was getting pneumonia. On 7/30, Sunday evening, Mom was transferred back to Swedish Edmonds, where she passed away on Wednesday, August 9, with Carol and Angelica by her side.

Besides her parents and husbands, Martha was also preceded in death by her brother Grant Strome. She is survived by her daughter, Carol (Roger) Stevens, son, Bob (Angelica) Musselman, her brother, Don (Mary) Strome and sister, Jo Olson. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren; Cynthia, Scott and Eric as well as 6 great grandchildren; Brandon, Larissa, Alex, Joseph, Riley Anne and Elliette Sara “Ellie”, and two great-great grandchildren. There are also many nieces and nephews and the family of Stan Moe.

A Memorial Service for Martha will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 25, at Calvary Christian Assembly Church, 6801 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that a memorial donation be made to Union Gospel Mission or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington.