She was the wife of the late Robert G. Martley.
Born in Pawtucket, RI, on August 1, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Robert H. and Elsie (Jenney) Hamilton.
She worked as a church secretary at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth for 15 years, retiring in 1985. After her retirement, she and her husband moved to Barefoot Bay, Florida, for 18 years. While living in Florida, she was very active at Sebastian Christian Church and taught computer classes at the Senior Center. She was a hospice volunteer. Grace and Bob returned each year to Aquidneck Island for the summers. After Bob's death in 2004, she moved to Tucson, AZ, where she was a member of the CDO Assembly of God Church and The Assistance League. Grace attended Portsmouth United Methodist Church since moving back to Rhode Island in July. Grace loved to laugh. She enjoyed all kinds of games and puzzles, dining out, walking, reading her Bible, working on the computer, and was also an avid photographer. But most of all, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister.
She is survived by her beloved son, Robert G. Martley, and his wife, Celeste, of Portsmouth, RI; her beloved daughters, Carolyn Vamvakis and her husband, Steven, of Tucson, AZ; Janet Bolender and her husband, Bruce Cotta, of Middletown, RI; and Patricia Martley and her husband, Charles, of North Fayston, VT; her sister, Patricia Ferg, of Tucson, AZ; her grandchildren, Jessica McCarthy, William Roland, James Roland, Christina Bolender, Collette Martley, Suzanne Martley and Asher Martley; and her great-grandchildren, Eamon and Liam McCarthy. She was the sister of the late Albert Hamilton, Malcolm Hamilton, Benjamin Hamilton and Evelyn Hamilton.
Her memorial service will be held on Monday, October 27, 2008, at 11 a.m., in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 324 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Mary's Churchyard in Portsmouth.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Cancer Society of Rhode Island, 931 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 3004, Warwick, RI 02886.
Condolences, information and directions are available at www.memorialfuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements are by Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.
