Sheriden S. Tufts-Martinez was born to Jack LaRue Tufts and Dorothy Evelyn Beatty on Dec. 23, 1936, in Fresno, California, at Saint Agnes Hospital. At the age of 15, she worked during the summer as a “ticket seller” at Hardy’s Theater on Van Ness Street in Fresno. She also worked as a telegram operator for Western Union. It was while working at the movie theater she met her future husband, Ruben Chavez Martinez. They were married July 28, 1954, in Madera, California.
In 1966, Ruben and Sheriden and their four children moved to Washington fistate, first settling in Tacoma, Washington, while looking for land to build their dream home. In 1968, they moved to Centralia, Washington, where they found a cute little house on Ash Street. Sheriden and Ruben found their land in Onalaska, Washington. They stayed in Centralia until the house was built, which was the summer of 1971. They moved to Onalaska where they raised beef cattle and later planted filberts. It was later that they moved back to California only to return to Washington after Ruben had died in Fresno.
Sheriden moved into a tiny home in Chehalis, Washington, on the hill behind the library. She loved that tiny place. She loved gardening, especially growing roses. Cecile Brunners were her favorite. She loved family dinners, and every Sunday she would drive to Napavine, bringing Jenaya. She loved to talk and laugh with all the other guests. Her son-in-law’s father, Hank Naumann, had loads of adventures he loved to talk about, and she enjoyed Jerry and Terri Naumann, Jeremy, Joan and Chance Naumann. She loved going to Walmart where she would see all her friends and family. She loved corny jokes and treasured any type of knock-knock jokes, writing them down to share during any and all telephone calls.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Jack LaRue Tufts and Dorothy Beatty; her husband, Ruben Martinez; son, Steven Ruben Martinez; daughters, Beth Martinez- Takacs and Laura Martinez; and her great-granddaughter, Alexie Naumann.
Those of us left to live without her are her daughter, Lisa Martinez-Naumann (Herman E. Naumann), Napavine, Washington; grandchildren, Jenaya Sharon, Centralia, Shavon K. Naumann, St. Peters Missouri, Autumn Takacs, Vancouver, Washington, Caleb Takacs, of South Carolina, Mathew Takacs, Vancouver, and Kendra Benfield, Olympia, Washington; her great-grandchildren, Issac Reavis, of Chehalis, Bailey Jones, of Lucerne, California, and Nathan Clingan of Hagerstown, Maryland.
She had a wild cat “Bearcat” that she discovered under her porch while he was having a knife fight with the local band of raccoons. Bearcat allowed her to take care of him when he needed assistance. And when he acquired his wife, “Babs,” Sheriden cared for Babs as well. Her kind neighbors will continue to care for Bearcat and Babs. Of course, Sheriden did take the knife away from Bearcat, fearing his hot temper would get the best of him. She was for law and order every time.
Sheriden died quietly on April 26, 2024, while in the care of Wellspring Assisted Living in Centralia. Her family wishes to thank the entire staff for their respectful, gentle and professional care that their mother and grandmother received. Wellspring not only cared for my mother, but they also helped her family in so many kind and thoughtful ways. We believe they made her last few weeks on this earth the best that they could be. We feel absolutely blessed to have had her cared for in such a considerate home.
Sheriden was cremated as she wished, and her ashes will be placed in Claquato Cemetery in Chehalis next to her daughter, Laura Martinez. There is no service planned in accordance with her wishes.
