Martha Lynn Brugger of Ocean Shores, Washington, passed away at Pacific Care and Rehabilitation Center in Hoquiam, Washington, on March 13, 2025, at the age of 77. She was born on January 31, 1948, in Seattle, Washington, to parents Richard E. Wilhite and Wilda (Hall) Wilhite.

Martha’s family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, when she was four years old, and then to Livermore, California when she was a teenager.

She attended college at the University of California at Davis where she earned a BA degree in Political Science, and met her future husband, Gary L. Brugger. The two were married on July 10, 1970, at the First Baptist Church in Livermore.

Martha was the organist at Kennydale United Methodist Church from 1988 to 2008 in Renton, Washington, where she and Gary resided for 37 years before moving to Ocean Shores. The main occupation at which she excelled and took much pride in, however, was that of homemaker. In addition to her family, Martha loved the cats in her life, and she was a lifetime member of North Beach PAWS.

Martha is survived by her husband Gary, of Ocean Shores; son Mark D. Brugger (wife Marissa) of Edmond, Oklahoma; brothers R. Glenn Wilhite (Karin) of Kirkland, Washington, and Nelson Wilhite (Janelle) of Pioneer, California; her sister Aileen Williams (Barry) of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and two wonderful granddaughters, Stella and Stassi Brugger.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Wilda Wilhite, and brother Clifton Wilhite (surviving wife Lesley).

Memorial donations can be made to the Museum of the North Beach (www.moclips.org), and North Beach PAWS (northbeachpaws.org/Donate)

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at the Oyhut Bay Event Center.