Martha “Marti” Boatman passed away on Nov. 30, in Hines. She was born Dec. 5, 1946, in Emmett, Idaho to George and Lois Strauchon, Marti was the third of five girls. She attended school in Cascade, Idaho. 

Marti became a mother for the first time in May 1970 Marti adopted her first daughter, Marci. Four years later in October 1974 she brought Sascha into the world. June 2, 1979, Marti married Chuck in Hines, and she gained a son, Morgan. July 1980 Nanci was born, and their family was complete.  

When Chuck and Marti moved to Hines, she worked from home providing daycare to many families for many years until she started working at Steens Mtn. Realty where she began her journey as a property manager. She continued that path until April 2020 when she retired from being the property manager at Blackburn Real Estate. She had a passion for her work and her personality made her successful.  

Marti loved each one of her children and that love was insanely fierce. But her true love came in the form of her grandchildren.  Marti loved her grandchildren, and they could rarely do wrong in her eyes, and she made sure they knew exactly how much she loved them.  As the years passed, her hobbies quickly shifted to watching her grandkids play sports and enjoyed the weekend camping trips that involved them. It didn’t matter what they were doing, she was their biggest fan. 

Marti didn’t mince words. When we spoke of an obituary, she didn’t say no but she had the opinion and shared it “If you don’t know me before I die, you’re not going to know me any better by reading my life story after I’m gone.” So we chose to do things a little different. 

Marti spent a lot of time with the five grandchildren that lived close to her. Each of them shared something that stuck out to them about their grandmother that is a true testament to the relationships she created with them and who she was. 

“I am beyond thankful for all the years I got to spend with her, the countless memories, the hard talks she gave me (that usually meant I need to clean my act up and learn from my mistakes) in which she guided me through it with her spot on advice and guidance, and in which she 100% shaped me to the person I am today. One spot converged to hundreds of memories. It would be at Grandma and Grandpa’s out on the back deck BSing for hours on end. Some visits consisted of three or four straight hours or more. Enjoying a Keystone with Grandpa and just visiting enjoying our time together” -Tyler

“My favorite quality about Rah is how cranky she was but she was cranky just because how much she loved us and how hard she loved us. Not a day would go by that I would question how much she loved me and how proud she was of me. When I found out that I was pregnant, she was the third person I told. The gasp of joy followed by the tears of excitement I heard in her voice through the phone was one of the best conversations I’ve had on the phone with Rah. I told her that my grandpa from California was in town, but I needed her to know I was pregnant first” – Emma

“Growing up there was a memory that Rah always reminded me of when she was having surgery that always stuck with me. Whenever I would go with her to her appointments, I’d get on the exam table with her and point my finger at the Doctor and say “Don’t you hurt my Rah” Every time she brought it up, it reminded me of how close we were and that there was always a protective feeling we had for one another that never seemed to waver. Love was the root of that, and I didn’t realize what it meant to me until it was gone” -Talon

“I spent countless hours with Rah and Papa both. Rah loved sharing stories about us.  The one she shared about me the most was when I was around four years old, and she asked if I knew where someone lived. I told her that I couldn’t tell her but if she let me drive, I could show her. She was always up for a road trip to Idaho, to come watch us play our games, share our excitement about whatever we were passionate about at the time. I will miss the countless hours we’ve spent on the phone when I would call her just to talk when I was traveling.” -Taron

“I enjoyed that no matter the circumstance, she always had or pretended to have the energy to show how much she loved her family. She always tried to be happy and outgoing even when she was exhausted or not feeling well” -Kaleb

These memories are just a few of thousands and she was starting to make even more memories with her three great-grandchildren up to the point of her death. 

Marti was survived by her husband, Chuck, Marci (Wes) Miller, Morgan (Kristi) Boatman their children, Scott, Adam, Hannah, Caleb and Jordan. Sascha (Kirk) Marston their children, Emma (Kevin) and daughter, Elayna and Kaleb. Nanci (Larry Todd) Norris their, children Talon and Taron. Tyler (Katie) Cooper their children, Thane and Kassidy. Sisters, Jane’t (Don) Heavrin, Delores Wheeler, Lucille (Gary) Logan.  

“If you can’t come see me when I am alive, don’t come see me when I am dead”, was a quote that Marti said regularly, and she whole heartedly meant it. As per her wishes, there will be no services. 

In lieu of flowers, cards, or meals please consider a donation of any size to Harney County Hospice in her name.