MARTHA SUTHERLAND

Martha Sutherland 4/24/1922-7/28/2014 Martha Sutherland was born on April 24, 1922 in Caseyville, Union County, Kentucky to Nora and Robert Griffin. The family moved to Columbus, Ohio in the late 1920's. Martha graduated from West High School in 1939 and then worked at Woolworth's. During World War II, she worked for Western Union as a telegrapher in cities such as Seattle and Los Angeles. In her mid-twenties, Martha became an airline stewardess for Trans World Airlines, serving on DC-3's and Constellations. While stationed in Kansas City in the early 1950's, she met and married Fred Ericson. A couple years after Fred's death, she visited a cousin living in Lakewood where she went on a blind date with Russ Sutherland. In 1957 she married Russ and moved to Lakewood with her daughter, Becky. Martha was an active member of the Steilacoom Orthopedic Guild and helped orchestrate many rummage sales to benefit Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. She remained life-long friends with her orthopedic "girls" and continued to have monthly luncheons with them for the remainder of her life. Martha was also active in the 1970's as a Daffodil Festival chaperone; in the 1980's she chaperoned several national women's figure skating events held in Tacoma. Martha spent several years researching her Omer family tree and established membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Martha enjoyed traveling with her husband Russ and close family friends. Some of her favorite trips were to Hawaii, the New England coast, Lake Louise in Alberta, and Egypt. She was very involved in the lives of her grandchildren and was very proud of all of them. Martha loved her long-hair dachshunds - Emily, Shortcake, Mollie and Lucy. An avid football fan, she had season tickets to the Seahawks for many years and lived to see them win the Super Bowl. Martha is preceded in death by her first husband Fred Ericson and second husband Russ Sutherland; sister Nancy Burris; and brother William Griffin. She is survived by her son Keith Sutherland (Billie); daughter Rebecca Ericson-Brown (Steve); son Scott Sutherland (Shannon); grandchildren Chelsea, Taylor, Gray, Alex, Annie, Tania and Sonia; great grandchildren Kyle and Keith; and step-grandchildren William and Jordan. Martha made an impression on all who met her. She loved people and enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone. They loved her warmth, friendliness and genuine interest in their lives; they admired her positive outlook and passion for life. A celebration of her life will take place tentatively on September 20th. Please contact the family or visit www.newtacoma.com for updates and further information. Also please visit the website to view a more detailed obituary, leave remembrances, and sign our guest book. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to the Tacoma Humane Society, 2608 Center Street, Tacoma 98409 or Mary Bridge Children's Foundation, P.O. Box 5296, Tacoma 98415-0296.