Martha Caroline McGuire, 95, of Medford and Sandy, Oregon went to be with Jesus on March 20th, 2014.
She was born to Warner and Christine Bostrom, on May 21, 1918 in Metaline Falls, Washington. Martha was the eldest of five children, June, Gladys, Betty Lou and Warner Junior. Her parents were both born in Sweden and immigrated to North America in the early 1900’s. Her father was a circus performer and a miner and her mother was a homemaker and baker. At the age of 12, Martha left home to work as a housekeeper/nanny, and later, a hotel waitress. She graduated from Metaline Falls High School in 1938 and moved to Cooks Logging Camp near Sand Point, Idaho to work as a cook and waitress.
With the money she saved at the timber camp, Martha was able to pay for her tuition in nursing school. She completed RN training at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, WA. In 1941, she was drafted into the United States Army as a nurse. During her time as an army nurse, she experienced many amazing things such as receiving a first edition of the army nurse’s New Testament from the Gideons, shaking hands with General George Patton, dancing with Clark Gable, and serving in England during World War II. In 1945, she was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant.
After leaving the army she joined her family who had moved to Portland to work in the shipyards. She began working as an RN at Providence Hospital and later the Veterans Hospital. While dancing at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, she met Michael Jack O’Hara, a recently discharged veteran. They married in 1947 and later had three children. Michael passed away in 1953. With her parent’s help, Martha raised her three children and began a career in the nursing home industry, eventually becoming the administrator and owner of three facilities. She later married Bob McGuire who died in 1970.
Martha was known not only for her skilled nursing, but also for her friendly nature and generosity. She had a heart of compassion and spent her entire life in the service of helping others. She was voted the Queen of the Sandy Mountain Festival and the president of her Garden Club. She was very active in the Sandy Assembly of God Church, the Senior Center, and the Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind. In 2012, Martha was recognized by the VA as the last working World War II nurse. She was also interviewed on television for being the oldest working nurse in the state of Oregon, and was honored by the Governor and the State Board of Nursing.
Martha is survived by her children: Jacqualine Connell of Medford, OR, Betty Ann Lusby of Huntington Beach, CA, and Michael O’Hara of Gresham, OR. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Many others also knew her as a mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend.
Martha slipped peacefully into eternity at the Northridge Center Assisted Living Facility owned by her daughter and her family. Jacqualine and granddaughters, Tamara and Memory, and her loving pets were at her side. Up until a month before she died she faithfully put out the American Flag every morning and brought it in every evening.
Her memorial will be held at Sandy Assembly of God Church in Sandy, OR on Saturday April 5th at 1:00 PM. Martha will be buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland on Monday April 7th at 1:00 PM with Military Honors. She will also have a memorial service at Northridge Center in Medford, OR on Saturday April 19th at 1:00 PM.