Martha-Mary Willson

Martha-Mary Willson of Larkspur, CA passed away on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 of natural causes at the age of 86.

Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Marine City, Michigan, Martha-Mary excelled in high school as a student, tap dancer and basketball player.

In 1952, she married Gary Willson, a radio personality

in Michigan radio. They moved to California in 1958 and moved between Sacramento and San Francisco as Gary worked in radio and television sales. In 1976, they moved from Alamo to the Fresno area to build an FM radio station that ran 24/7 at 50,000 watts. Running a radio station was a childhood dream of Gary’s that Martha-Mary supported by working as the Vice President, Operations Manager and co-owner, while caring for their three children. Together, they made KIOY Fresno’s number one radio station in 1979!

Martha-Mary was a loving mother, a former golfing member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, a prolific quilter in the Mt. Tam Quilt Guild, an active and faithful member of the Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, and Chair of UMW (United Methodist Women).

She leaves behind her husband, Gary (married for 69 years); three children, Mark Willson, Nancy Willson-Strader and Conny Shyvers; six grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Martha-Mary was an avid reader and a woman of faith who read her Bible daily. She loved children and animals and was actively involved in charities and fundraising. She will always be remembered as an incredibly thoughtful, loving, and caring person.