Martha L. Muessig of Longbranch, Wash., and former longtime Hermiston resident, died on May 4, 2017 in Gig Harbor, Wash. at the age of 94.
She was born on Jan. 6, 1923 in Medford to Harry and Effie Pankey Caton.
She served in the WAVES in the United States Navy during World War II until her honorable discharge. She moved to Hermiston in 1956 and worked at the Eastern Oregon State Hospital in Pendleton. She went to work at the Umatilla Army Depot in Hermiston in 1963. She was the first woman to qualify in her division of securing chemical weapons and worked at the depot until retirement. She was a cryptoquote master, avid reader, portrait sketcher and flower gardener.
She is survived by her daughters, Linda Clark, Hermiston, Janet Christian, Saint Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, and Patricia Murphy, Longbranch, Wash.; grandchildren, Michelle Keyser, John Thomas, Drew Rozdilsky, Peter Barnes, Kyle Murphy, Kurtis Murphy, Claudius Christian, Shannon Ray, and Laurel Christian; 10 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Ronald Barnes, and seven siblings.
A family celebration will be held.
Please sign the online condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
