Martha “Marty” Thacker, 84

As some people journey through life, they leave behind more than memories — they leave footprints of kindness, love, and light. Marty was one of those rare souls.

She passed peacefully on July 17, 2025, in Goodyear, Arizona, with the kind of grace she carried every day of her 84 years.

Born in Charleston, West Virginia, on April 18, 1941, Marty’s story began in the heart of Appalachia. It was there, at Marshall University, she met the one who would become her true partner in life, Harry. She worked in grants, he taught ROTC, and married on June 23, 1973, and together they built a love story that spanned 52 years.

After her work at Marshall she went to work at top radio station in Huntington KBRD/KTAC, in a few short months she was promoted to Sales Manager (one of the first female sales managers in the country).

Through every chapter, from early career days to quiet evenings later in life, Harry was the steady hand she held and the love she cherished most deeply. Harry was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington. So, Harry, Marty and the kids packed up and set off on a new adventure.

Marty’s passion for storytelling and community became the heartbeat of her work. In Gig Harbor, Washington, she did not just see a town—she saw a stage, a canvas, a gathering place. She founded the Gig Harbor Film Festival 2007 and served as the Executive Director until 2015, nurturing it from a dream into a vibrant celebration of art and cinema. With the help of friends, sponsors, and volunteers, she welcomed both rising talent and Hollywood legends — Julie Andrews, David DePatie, and others — into the harbor’s embrace. But it was not the stars that defined the festival. It was the way Marty made people feel seen, valued, and part of something beautiful.

Her proudest role, though, was never one that came with a title. It was simply being Mom and Grandma. Marty is survived by her children, Greg, and Tonja, and five grandchildren who were the light of her life: Carly, Ty, Tanner, David, and Madison. She poured love into every call, every visit, every hug — treasuring each moment with the same wonder she brought to everything she touched.

Later in life, 2021 to be exact, Marty and Harry made their home in PebbleCreek, Arizona, where she found new friends, sunlit mornings, and just enough golf to keep Harry humble. Her laughter was generous. Her spirit, magnetic. She brought with her not just memories of the Northwest, but the same warmth and connection she had always carried, leaving new footprints in the desert sand.

Marty did not need to seek recognition. She made the world better by simply being who she was—courageous, compassionate, quick to laugh, and always willing to lift others up. And though she has gone ahead of us, her trail remains: bright with joy, kindness, and purpose. A trail we can still follow with hope.

Marty stated she did not want a service. She said she did not want people to be sad but to enjoy and embrace life like she did.