Martha (Katherine) Myers Daley

Martha (Katherine) Myers Daley passed away peacefully, held in God’s care, on January 1, 2026, in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was born on May 21, 1938, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, the only child of Harry Andrew Myers and Mary Evelyn West. Martha was preceded in death by her parents and by her beloved husband of 56 years, William Arthur Daley, Sr. She is survived by her sons: William Arthur Daley, Jr.; John Andrew Daley (and his wife Suzanne) and their daughter Hannah; and Scott Edward Daley (and his wife Michele), their twin sons Jack (and his wife Sarah) and Luke, and Luke’s son Alden, her cherished great-grandson. She is also survived by her cousin Norma (Graffam) Boothby, with whom she shared a sisterly bond, as well as many loved extended family members and dear friends. Martha grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and graduated from Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine, where she was known as “Marty.” She was active in cheerleading and sports (hockey, softball, archery, badminton, volleyball, tennis, and basketball), drama, choir, and musicals (including a solo), as well as clubs such as French and photography. She also served as senior class secretary. It was during her years at Gould that she met her future husband, Bill. She attended Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, while Bill studied at nearby Brown University. At Wheaton, Martha participated in athletics, singing groups, and drama, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She married Bill, the love of her life and best friend, in December 1959. In the summer of 1960, the couple moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where Bill served in the U.S. Navy and Martha taught at Lakewood Elementary School until the birth of their first son. All three of their sons were born during their years in Norfolk. It was there that they met and became lifelong best friends with Tom and Barbara Corey, whose family became an extension of their own. Their children grew up calling Tom and Barbara “Uncle” and “Aunt,” and the Corey children—Steve, David, and Beth—were embraced as cousins. The families vacationed together and shared every Thanksgiving and Christmas until the children were grown. In 1967, Martha and Bill moved to Manassas, Virginia, where they made their home for 30 years. Their warm and loving home was filled with her organ music, guitar playing, and music group gatherings with close friends. Family dinners were a daily tradition at 6:00 p.m., with the children called home by the ringing of the porch dinner bell. Study time was strictly enforced during the school year, as education was a top priority. Martha and her family were deeply involved at Trinity Episcopal Church. She was a stay-at-home mother until her youngest child was in third grade, when she began teaching at Bennett Elementary School. In 1977, she started teaching third grade at Weems Elementary School—just three blocks from their home. She was a beloved teacher, known for her passion, creativity, and slightly unconventional approach that left a lasting impact on generations of students. She also championed and successfully secured an annual weeklong Easter break for the school system. Martha retired after 20 years at Weems. Martha was active in the Junior Women’s Club of Manassas, serving in many roles, including president. She was especially proud of spearheading the start of the community’s first Meals on Wheels program through the Club. Friendships were central to her social life and her love of travel. Martha maintained a lifelong connection with a group of girls she first met in kindergarten. She had many teaching friends and bridge friends, and many called her their best friend. She and Bill traveled to Sweden, Germany, Austria, Russia, England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as many domestic destinations with the Coreys. They also enjoyed a special Caribbean cruise with their children and grandchildren to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. After retiring in 1997, Martha and Bill moved to Greenville, North Carolina. There, Martha joined the Service League and volunteered at both the Ronald McDonald House and Vidant Medical Center. She played duplicate bridge and was an avid golfer at Brook Valley Country Club, where they lived on the 11th fairway. In 2012, they returned to Virginia and made their home at Warm Hearth Village, a retirement community, where they lived independently in a patio home. Martha enjoyed playing bridge, singing in the choir, and participating in many activities with fellow residents. Her husband Bill passed away in the fall of 2015 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. In the summer of 2017, Martha moved into an apartment at the Showalter Center. She greatly enjoyed the many friendships she developed there, especially during the COVID lockdown, when many games were played in lieu of having visitors. In May 2025, she moved to the Kroontje Health Care Center under hospice care. Martha was a devoted Virginia Tech fan. She first began attending football games in 1980 and, for most of her 13 years in Blacksburg, held season tickets to Hokie football and men’s and women’s basketball, and regularly attended softball, baseball, and wrestling events—attending her final games at the age of 86. The staff at the Showalter Center loved seeing her head out for games dressed head to toe in Hokie attire, even in unpleasant weather. “Grammie,” as she was lovingly known, is remembered by her grandchildren as generous, loving, and deeply devoted to her family—declared “the best grandma anyone could ask for.” She always wanted to know what was happening in their lives and encouraged them to believe they could succeed in anything they set their minds to. Her beloved “Grammie’s Reading Corner” was a place of warmth and learning, where she patiently taught her grandchildren and great-grandchild to read and instilled a lifelong love of learning. While she taught countless children throughout her career, her favorite pupils were her own grandchildren, who got to choose something from her gift stash after each session. Each summer, Martha and Bill joyfully hosted their grandsons for weeks filled with games, golf, swimming, and laughter, creating memories that will be cherished forever. The boys remember those Greenville summers as some of their very favorite childhood memories. Martha and Bill also planned and executed a special trip for all three grandchildren to visit Disney World when they were young. Another highlight was attending her first rock concert—Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band—with her family, including her grandchildren, at age 84. One tradition that came to define the family was the annual trip to the Outer Banks—a time that became the heartbeat of their summers and the source of countless treasured stories. Games were played endlessly, especially a very competitive yearly Sorry! competition, which she and Bill often won. The Outer Banks was more than a destination; it was a place where love was lived out loud, and those moments will remain with the family always. Martha was truly one of a kind. Whether teaching, playing games, chatting, or simply sharing laughter, she found her greatest joy in being with her family—even in her final days. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and connection that will live on for generations. Her strength, her fashion sensibility, her zest for life (often the life of the party), and the way she made everyone feel special through her words, her smile, and the sparkle of her beautiful green eyes will never be forgotten. “Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love.” —John Milton, Paradise Lost (Her chosen Gould Academy senior yearbook quote) In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to share memories and/or pictures at daleymartha@hotmail.com. A spring memorial service will be planned. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Warm Hearth Village for providing a loving community and compassionate care during Martha’s years in Blacksburg, and to Good Samaritan Hospice for thoughtfully guiding the family during the final months of her life.

Martha (Katherine) Myers Daley

May 21, 1938 - January 1, 2026