Marty Spangler Garrigues

On February 20^th, Marty Garrigues passed away after a long journey with Alzheimer’s.

Marty was born on May 27^th, 1947 in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She grew up in Haddonfield, also enjoying summers at the family home in Jamestown, Rhode Island. She attended Moorsetown Friends School, followed by the University of Delaware, where she graduated with a degree in Library Science. Marty married Glenn Garrigues in November of 1974.  Glenn and Marty then moved to California and settled in San Jose where they raised their two children, Wendy and Joel.

Marty was wonderful. She had a fantastic sense of humor. She liked to pass time doodling mustaches on the models in Wendy’s Seventeen fashion magazines whenever she was on the phone, and felt free to burst into song when she was happy. Marty operated under the alias of Batanna whenever she was feeling silly and wanted to get up to shenanigans with Smiley, her dog and sidekick. She also enjoyed sewing (sometimes while yelling at her machine!). She had a wonderful eye for color, and sewed many fabulous Halloween costumes, kid bathrobes, and Barbie clothes for her children over the years. As a trained librarian, Marty loved books and literature. In her later years, she especially enjoyed reading murder mysteries.  Marty also loved movies starring Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Audrey Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn. She watched them over and over.

In their younger California years, Glenn and Marty cared for a memorial rose garden at their church, Saratoga Presbyterian, and Marty took care of the library.  Their church community meant a lot to them, especially their couples’ Bible study the “Two by Twos.”  During those years, Glenn and Marty liked to go for long drives with no destination, enjoying it so much that when they had to bring Wendy and Joel, they promised ice cream at the end of the drive (regardless of whether or not their destination would actually have ice cream!).  Marty enjoyed nature. She and Glenn had a cabin up in Big Trees Village, off highway 4, and spent many happy weekends and summers there exploring, fishing, reading, and sledding.  They enjoyed walks through the giant redwoods at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and loved to fish and read books on Lake Alpine.

In 2004, Marty and Glenn moved to Roseville, California, followed by Wendy and her husband Damon in 2010, and then Joel in 2011. Marty loved living near her children and grandchildren. She was overjoyed to share a birthday with her older Granddaughter Athena, and talked about it constantly.  When she met her younger granddaughter, Diana, she burst into song while holding and rocking her. During those latter days, she loved dithering about in the garden. She also maintained a substantial gnome collection, which she enjoyed repainting every spring as soon as the weather was nice.

In her last years, as Alzheimer’s began to take away parts of her, she still enjoyed coloring and creating beautiful colorful crafts. She still sang. In the memory care home where she lived, she loved to sing Karaoke.  The beauty of her heart shone through in her smile even when other parts of her couldn’t remember what they were doing. We will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her daughter Wendy, son Joel, son-in-law Damon, and two granddaughters, Athena and Diana.

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If you're planning to order flowers, please consider our favorite local floral shop, Becky's Flowers, https://www.beckysflowers.com/. Order online or call 916-786-0313.

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Those wishing to make a donation in Martha's honor are encouraged to donate to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E344060&id=27.

This park was near and dear to Marty's heart, and we spent many many happy summers hiking and exploring there with her and Dad when we were kids. 🥰❤ (and as adults).