- Martha Ann Mabey, at the age of eighty-five, passed away of natural causes on January 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Martha, or "Marty" as known by many, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on December 16, 1928 to Robert P. Rice and Martha Ann Foreman.
Unfortunately, Marty's mother passed away during childbirth. Marty was raised by her father and had help from her two aunts, Edith and Tattie during her younger years. Her father eventually remarried to Frances (Sis) Day in 1934. It wasn't too long before she had a step-brother, Robert P. Rice, Jr., and step-sister, Louise (Lou) Rice. Her father was in the steel business which through the war led them to move from New York City to Louisiana and to Texas, eventually returning to New York.
Growing up, Marty was extremely active and loved sports. She loved to swim, ride bikes, play tennis, ski, and was an avid sailor.
After high school, Marty attended the University of Pennsylvania where she studied in education. She continued to be active in sports and was involved with field hockey, basketball, archery, softball, badminton, swimming, and skiing.
Being adventurous and following her love to ski, she decided to move to Utah where she accepted a teaching position at a private school in Salt Lake City, Rowland Hall. It was here that she built lifelong friendships and eventually led to meeting her future husband, Orson H. Mabey, Jr.
After a year of courtship, she and Orson were married in June of 1961. Marty and Orson had three children together, Orson H. Mabey, III; Martha Marie Mabey Lawson; and Melissa Ann Mabey Tenny.
Shortly after the three children were born, they moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where they raised their family. Marty became involved in the LDS Church and was soon baptized a member. She was very active in the church and was a pack mother for the cub scouts and coached the girls' basketball team. She had a love for her family and teaching others.
In 1983, Marty and Orson moved to Saudi Arabia, where Orson was a physician at one of the hospitals. This allowed Marty and Orson begin another round of adventure where they lived in the Middle East and traveled the world.
After several years overseas, Marty and Orson returned to the US and eventually retired in Las Vegas, Nevada. Orson passed away on October 8, 2001. It was this same year that the first two grandchildren were born, (Michael Tyler Lawson and Kyle Orson Tenny), and Marty became a grandmother.
Marty's love for her family and her friends is what she lived for and continued to live for through her passing. She was incredibly strong, positive and always had a smile and good word for everyone. As a daughter, a sister, a friend, a teacher, a wife, a mother, an aunt and a grandmother she has touched the lives of so many, for that we are grateful.
From the teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley -"All of us have to deal with death at one time or another, but to have in one's heart a solid conviction concerning the reality of eternal life is to bring a sense of peace in an hour of tragedy that can come from no other source under the heavens."
Graveside services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2014 in the Bountiful Memorial Park 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful, Utah. Friends may visit with the family from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Lindquist's Bountiful Mortuary, 727 North 400 East, Bountiful.
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1928 - 2014 (85 years)
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