Marth Dempster

January 7, 1950 – June 6, 2025

Martha Margaret (Sky) Dempster passed away at Jefferson Hospital on June 6, 2025. Born in Globe, Arizona, to George and Lola Dempster, Martha was a child of the Southwest who loved to roam the desert at Coolidge Dam where her father was superintendent.

Growing up in Globe, she was an exceptional student, spiritual leader, and musician who played clarinet in a winning marching band, was an outstanding pianist, and played the organ for three churches.

After graduation from Texas Women’s University, she joined with the team of the Ecumenical Institute and Institute of Cultural Affairs to carry out a spiritual program of selfless service in the United States and abroad.

She was an Occupational Therapist for 45 years and a gifted hand therapist who served many patients in Port Townsend and on the Kitsap Peninsula.

As a passionate student of women’s spirituality and a member of Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, she led retreats highlighting the true legacy of Mary Magdalene. She was a member of Ananda Church of Self Realization and a devotee of Paramhansa Yogananda.

Sky was a talented artist who painted inspiring watercolors as a student of John Adams, painter of light.

Martha Sky was preceded in death by her big brothers, George and Tom Dempster. She is adored and missed by her loving family, including her wife, Shakti Dieste, her son Russell Gordon Dempster Cunningham, and her grandsons Grant and John Christian. Also by sons-in-law Daniel and Joseph Christian and daughters-in-law Susan Christian and Rebeka Jayne, and the family of Blanche Dempster, Evelyn, Eric and Emily Dawson, and many loving friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held this summer, with date and time posted at UnityPT.org.

Dear Friends and colleagues,

Martha Dempster peacefully passed from this realm of existence following three years of challenging Lewy body dementia. Please direct prayers of condolences and sympathy to her wife, Shakti Dieste and son, Russell Cunningham. A memorial service will follow later in August.

Sharing your memories of Martha on this message thread will be appreciated.

With gratitude for a dear friend,

          ~~  Sharon Fisher

Martha and I were both in the Houston Religious House in the early 1970s. On one occasion she and I were assigned to do some kind of trek through Central Texas. Along the way we stopped off in the little rural town of Dublin, where my mother was born and raised. We went by the home of my grandmother and grandfather, who still lived there. I introduced Martha to them and they, in true Texas style, insisted that we stay for lunch. Martha was a special colleague and a very gracious young woman. I had not seen her for many years but I am certain she was equally so as an older woman. May she rest in peace.

         ~~  Randy Williams

Martha was my college roommate.

She recruited me to RS1.
I mourn her passing
I regret we weren’t in touch these last years.
I celebrate her completed life. Blessed be.
~~  Mary Kincaid Hampton