www.redmondwashington.org

 

Martha J. WHITE (1899-1992) was one of three daughters of William Henry Fulton WHITE (1842-1914) and Emma McREDMOND (1869 - 1932).   In 1921, she married  Raymond Locke GARDNER Sr. (1895 - 1961), a former University of Washington Husky football captain who became a prominent lumberman. They had four children including Diana. He died in 1961. In 1963, she married Emil SICK (1894-1964), who had built Seattle's minor-league baseball facility, Sick's Seattle Stadium, in the 1930s. Mr. Sick died in 1964.


MARTHA WHITE GARDNER SICK LOVED THE OPERA AND POLITICS

The Seattle Times - July 17, 1992 

Obituary: Pride in her pioneer heritage, an enthusiasm for politics and a love of music are some of the things people will remember about Martha WHITE Gardner Sick, who died Monday at her Seattle home. She was 93. Mrs. Sick was the daughter of one of the state's first Supreme Court justices, Judge "War Horse" William Henry White, who had served in the Union Army in the Civil War.

She was the widow of Emil Sick, chairman of the board of the Rainier Brewery and the Seattle Rainiers baseball club. Mrs. Sick was associated with a variety of civic endeavors, including the Seattle Opera Guild, of which she was a founder. She was a member of the National Council of the Metropolitan Opera and often was instrumental in bringing premier vocalists and musicians to Seattle. A persistent letter writer to presidents, senators and congressmen, Mrs. Sick, like many in her family, avidly followed and debated political issues. "The day she died, she was still watching CNN (the 24-hour TV news channel) and talking to her housekeeper about politics," said Mrs. Sick's daughter, Diana  of Mercer Island. Diana said her mother had been weighing whether to support President Bush or Ross Perot in this year's election.  Mrs. Sick's grandfather, Luke McREDMOND, traveled to this country from Ireland in 1848, came to the Pacific Northwest in 1853 and settled in the Sammamish Valley in 1871. The town of Redmond was named after him. Her mother, Emma McRedmond, became postmistress of Redmond at the age of 16. Mrs. Sick attended Holy Names Academy and Forest Ridge Convent before beginning to pursue a musical career in San Francisco. "Vocal was her forte. She could have had a career in opera or on the stage," Diana said, adding that Mrs. Sick opted to marry and raise a family instead. In 1921, she married Raymond Locke GARDNER, a former University of Washington Husky football captain who became a prominent lumberman. He died in 1961. In 1963, she married Emil Sick, who had built Seattle's minor-league baseball facility, Sick's Seattle Stadium, in the 1930s. Mr. Sick died in 1964. Mrs. Sick's many activities included being program chair for the Ladies Musical Club, a member of the Sunset Club and a supporter of the Museum of History and Industry. She was a member of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, Daughters of the American Revolution, and she was a strong supporter of Seattle Day Nursery. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Sick's survivors include sons Raymond Locke GARDNER Jr. of Tacoma, William White GARDNER of Seattle, and Barry Manning GARDNER of Port Orchard; a sister, Dorothy White Hanscom of Redmond, six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. A private family service was held. Remembrances are suggested to Children's Hospital Medical Center or a favorite charity.

NOTE: Martha (WHITE) Gardner Sick was named after her Aunt Martha Fulton (WHITE) Fulton. This Aunt was her father, Justice William Henry Fulton WHITE's sister,  Her Aunt's middle name was her mother Sarah FULTON's last name. Mrs. Sick's Aunt Martha married William Pierce FULTON, her first cousin once removed. (This wasn't too unusual in the 1800s.) Aunt Martha Fulton White Fulton came to Redmond, Washington with her son, Walter Sheppard FULTON. Aunt Martha was a charter member of the Pioneer Society of Washington, a member of DAR and had been a founder of the Seattle Day Nursery.  So as you see in her niece, Mrs. Sick's obituary, she was proud to support the Seattle Day Nursery that her Aunt Martha co-founded and join the Pioneer Society of Washington that her Aunt Martha was a charter member.


Gift of Mrs. Emil Sick (Diana's mother), June 7, 1990 to University of Washington

1. Photograph, William Henry White, by Rogers, Olympia
2. Photograph, William Henry White and daughter Martha, ca. 1901, by Rogers, Olympia
3. Photograph, Emma McRedmond White and Anna McRedmond Smith, by Peiser, Seattle
4. Photograph, Emma McRedmond White, by Bailey, Seattle
5. Photograph, Raymond Locke Gardner and his parents, Pauline and Charles Gardner, of Wausau, Wisconsin; interior of parlor, photographer not known
6. Photograph, Emma McRedmond, by La Roche, Seattle (head and shoulders)
7. Photograph, Emma McRedmond, by La Roche, Seattle (full standing)
8. Photograph, Emma McRedmond White, by Bailey, Seattle
9. Photograph, Redmond railroad station, probably 1889, by Bailey, Seattle
10. Photograph, Redmond post office, with Emma McRedmond White and sister Anna McRedmond Smith, William and David McRedmond (brothers) and Mr. and Mrs. Luke McRedmond, photographer not known
11. Photograph, Hotel Redmond, photographer not known
12. Photograph, Hotel Redmond interior, with Anna McRedmond Smith, Emma McRedmond White, and portrait on wall of Martha White, photographer not known
13. Photograph, four men and four women, ca. 1895, including Emma McRedmond and Anna McRedmond, photographer not known
14. Christmas card, Redmond Town Center, depicting William H. White residence (Hotel Redmond) and describing restoration of building.
15. Photograph, framed, of Emil Sick at brewery
16. Original cartoon, framed, of Emil Sick, by Jack Winter, Seattle Times

 

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