Martha Mackie

1922 - 2016

Martha Mackie of Granite Falls, Wash., died January 21, 2016, ending her life's journey as she so often referred to it. Martha was born January 23, 1922, to Chris and Marie Jacobsen in Lark, North Dakota, the oldest of four children. Martha grew up during the depression, a tough time for her family like many families then trying to survive off the land in rural America. Out of necessity Martha learned to sew. She would redesign cloths for herself and siblings from handed down garments given to the family. By the time Martha was sewing clothes for her own three children she was an excellent seamstress, sewing wedding dresses and intricate outfits. She sewed hundreds of sequences on costumes for her girls baton and dancing recitals. It was a slow and tedious process but her costumes were always beautiful. She enjoyed the Oscar Awards in the midst of her sewing years, especially the selections for best designed costumes. Martha met her husband Wallace "Wally" on a double date she and her boyfriend at the time arranged. They introduced Mom's best friend to Mom's boyfriend's best friend, Wally and the rest is history. Martha and Wally loved spending time in the summer on Whidbey Island at the Mackie cabin with family and friends. They fished, dug for clams and in their younger years water skied on the cold Puget Sound waters. Mom was a member of several organizations including a member of the Granite Falls Planning Commission. When Wally retired they joined Snohomish County's Visitors Information and the Granite Falls Historical Society. They loved to travel and this passion led them to interesting and wonderful places in this world including visits to Denmark, her parent's roots, where she meet many of her Danish Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and twin Cousin, Jens. A few years after Wallace passed, Harold Hightower came into her life, putting a smile back on her face and joy back in her life. She and Harold also traveled the world but most of all Martha appreciated Harold's welcoming family, Hal and Nancy, Marla and Chuck and Tom. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace. She is survived by her daughter, Connie, (Glen) Gronning, Carol, (Joe) Hutchinson, son, Curt, (Kathy) Mackie; four grandsons, two great grand children, nephews and a special niece, Gayle. We will miss you; you will be in our hearts forever! There will be no funeral services at Martha's request. Martha's family would like to thank the staff and residents at the Village in Granite Falls for their exceptional kindness and care. You provided a wonderful home for Mom at a very difficult time in her life. She told us many times how happy she was living there.