NORTHFIELD, Martha (Marty)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ December 30, 2008 Martha "Marty" Ewing Northfield, 65, died Dec. 10, 2008, in Santa Fe, N.M. She lived in Pinetop from 1995 until early October of this year, when she went to stay with her daughter Karen and her family while being treated for metastasis breast cancer. Her family, while deeply saddened of her passing are relieved that she left the planet very peacefully in her sleep with no pain or suffering. She was born in December 1942 in Safford, the youngest child in a large blended family. Her parents were Ross and Clessa Ewing. She lived in Duncan until she graduated from Duncan High School and left to attend Northern Arizona University (known then as the Arizona State College of Flagstaff). Shortly after leaving college and moving to Phoenix she met her beloved husband and best friend of 39 years, Richard "Dick" Northfield. Dick and Marty lived in Phoenix where she worked as an administrator for the City of Glendale and he worked as a hydraulics engineer. They raised two adored daughters, Karen and Debra. After the girls were grown and Marty retired, Dick and Marty returned to their long time vacation spot in the White Mountains. They settled in a lovely meadow home in Pinetop, where Dick, Marty and their faithful companion, Nicholas, rambled about the nearby trails and watched sunsets from the porch. Dick preceded Marty, passing away in May of 2000. Marty was an artist who was good at everything she put her hands to; she created and taught ceramic arts throughout the time she lived in Phoenix. On moving to Pinetop, she discovered a love of quilting and crocheting and created many beautiful quilts, afghans, throws and wall hangings treasured by her children and, most especially, by her grandchildren. Marty thoroughly enjoyed spending time with friends and family and was the life of any gathering. She was always willing to lend a hand to any project or task and was equally generous with her time and her numerous talents. She loved to travel and took every opportunity to do so. She enjoyed participating in the Scottish Games in the United States and Scotland. She also traveled to Peru, Mexico, United Kingdom and Ireland. Marty is survived by her two much-loved daughters and their partners, Karen Northfield and Pamela Michaels and Debra and Fred Cawthon; grandchildren Jessica and Bethany Cawthon and Benjamin, John and Julia Michaels. She also leaves behind five elder sisters, Effie Ewing Lehner, Clessa Lunt, Ida Birtcher, Lariene Treat and Velma Stewart, and one brother, Leonard Ewing. She will be missed by her numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and a large group of devoted friends. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at Owens Livingston Mortuary White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th St., Show Low. Memorial donations can be made in honor of Marty Northfield's fight against breast cancer to Susan G. Koman for the Cure, Attn: Memorial Donation, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244, or call (877) 465-6636 or go to www.komen.org.