Martha Ann Graves Siemers

Obituary Notice

Mrs. Martha Ann Graves Siemers, aged 66, of Redwood City, California, died Friday, December 10, 2004. She was a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, daughter of the late William A. and Mabel Morehart Graves. She spent her early childhood and youth in Little Rock. When she was age fourteen her father, who was an officer and Interstate Commerce Commission Practitioner with the Rock Island Railroad, was transferred to the railroad's central office in Chicago, and she lived with her family in the Chicago suburbs of La Grange Park and Western Springs. Upon graduation from Lyons Township High School, she enrolled in the University of Illinois at Urbana, from which she received her baccalaureate degree in Education in 1959. After teaching for several years in an elementary school in suburban Chicago, she moved to the San Francisco area in the early 1960's. Beginning a lifelong career with the west coast Postal Data Center of the United States Postal Service in San Mateo, California, she met there her future husband, William Siemers, who was an accountant at the center. They were married on April 13, 1974.

Early in life she excelled academically. Even while enrolled in the third grade at the Fair Park Elementary School, she wrote a prize book review that was published in the Arkansas Gazette, and she was a blue ribbon participant in the Little Rock Public Library's summer reading program. Later, while a student at Pulaski Heights Junior High School, she attained listing on the school's Honor Roll. In high school she was inducted into the National Honor Society, and in 1956, out of a total of 750 students who took scholarship examinations, she was one of 72 students who were awarded the prestigious University of Illinois scholarship, exempting her from all tuition fees. While a student at the University, she was initiated into the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, and she was the recipient of the Pan-Hellenic Council's commendation for highest scholarship. She also worked as a reporter for the college newspaper, The Daily Illini, and in addition belonged to the Delta Delta Delta sorority.

In Redwood City, with her husband, she was an active parishioner and communicant at St. Pius Church. She also provided numerous hours each week of volunteer service to the Redwood City Pets in Need animal shelter, while at the same time showering her own pets with much love and affection. A truly gentle and caring person, she will be remembered always by her family and friends for her kindness, warmth, and generosity of spirit.

She is survived by her husband, William Siemers of Redwood City, California, and a brother, John William Graves of Little Rock. An earlier funeral service was held at the Redwood Chapel Funeral Home in Redwood City, California, on December 16. A final graveside service will be conducted in Little Rock this Wednesday, December 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park, with the Reverend William Elser presiding. A visitation prior to the burial will be held on Wednesday from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com

Register Book

• Dear John, I was so sorry to read of Martha's death. Aunt Ruth and I will be at the visitation on Wednesday. We plan to go the graveside service as well, weather permitting, since Ruth is 87! You and William are in our thoughts and prayers. 
  Annette Jackson Hawkins 
  Little Rock, Arkansas
  
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