Barbara "Marty" Martha (Slatery) Erickson

B. Martha ‘Marty’ Erickson, 85, quietly passed into eternal life during the predawn hours of April 27, 2018 at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.

Marty was born on July 17, 1932 in Knoxville, TN to William V. Slatery and Elza (Nichols) Slatery. She attended South Knoxville Elementary School. During her youth she spent time with relatives in and around the Great Smoky Mountains where she acquired a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Her father’s work for the Tennessee Valley Authority resulted in the family moving several times until finally settling in Chattanooga, TN.

Here she attended Girls Preparatory School before graduating from Chattanooga High School. After high school she enrolled in the University of Tennessee Knoxville then transferred to University of Chattanooga. She received a BA degree in Sociology.

It was at UC in 1952 where she met the love of her life and her best friend Eugene W. Erickson of Spring Valley, NY. After a whirlwind romance the couple was wed at the UC Chapel on August 21, 1954.

Eugene was enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Course in the Marine Corps Reserves. They first moved to Fredericksburg, VA for Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico, VA then moved on to Camp LeJeune, NC. During her stay at Camp LeJeune Marty accompanied her husband to Boston for three months where he tried out for the 1956 US Olympic hockey team. After her husband’s service ended in August of 1956 they moved to Monsey, NY where Eugene worked at the Woodside Dairy in Spring Valley and then purchased Axt & Swanson Oldsmobile on Route 45 in Spring Valley.

Even though she was living in New York, Marty never forgot that she was a true southern belle and her charming nature endeared her to many newfound friends. She immediately became involved with the Spring Valley Garden Club and the Valley Star Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. She was also a member of the Rockland County German-American Club. In addition she eventually was given an honorary membership to the Pearl River Rotary Club.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s her love of the outdoors was sated with family camping trips. She and several friends organized a loose network of camping families informally known as the Ramapo Valley Camping Association. During this time she became an avid skier and scuba diver, sports that carried her well into the 1980’s.

After arriving in NY she worked part time at Steven’s Florist in Spring Valley. She later spent time working at Dykstra’s Florist in Spring Valley and then at Schweizer’s Florist in Pearl River. She also spent several years helping out as a secretary at her husband’s car dealership.

After her husband sold the business and retired in 1992, Marty refused to slow down. She joined the Shatemuc Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and eventually became a multi-term regent of the chapter. Marty then began a movement to create a Ladies Auxiliary for the Rockland County Marine Corps League where she became both a charter member and the first president of the Auxiliary. For her hard work she was awarded an honorary membership to the Rockland County Marine Corps League. She spent the rest of her life advocating for veterans.

Marty lived a full life filled with adventure, excitement, grace and will be sorely missed by all that knew her and loved her. Her husband succinctly summed up her life and passing by commenting, “I just lost my best friend.” Marty is survived by her husband Eugene, brother Patrick Slatery (Beth), son Randall (Heidi), daughter Jacqueline, step grandsons James (Caitlyn) and Jeffrey Zembriski, nephew Martin Slatery (Jody) and niece Katie Knelson (Ronald).

Viewing will be at Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern, NY on Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 2-8 pm. The funeral service and interment will be by invitation only. There will be a public memorial service on Saturday, June 9 at 11 am at the Old Stone Church, 500 East Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, and according to Marty’s wishes, donations in her memory to Canine Companions for Independence, Miller Family Campus, 286 Middle Island Road, Medford, NY 11763 online at www.cci.org, would be greatly appreciated.