Yesterday, Kelley Earnhardt shared the sad news that her grandmother, Martha “Mamaw” Earnhardt, had passed away on Christmas day:
Her grandson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., also took to Instagram to share some precious photos of Martha with family, as well as some thoughts about his Mamaw and what she meant to him as a mother figure in his life:
“I’m thankful that I got to tell her I loved her before she left. What a life she lived. What amazing things she saw and experienced during her 91 years.
I hope we are all so lucky to live such a full life and leave it so peacefully. Until we meet again…”
Martha played a big role in bringing Dale Sr. and his formerly estranged son, Kerry, together and introducing him into their family. She was also a beloved and respected matriarch figure in the NASCAR community for years.
She had sadly lost all three of her sons, and husband Ralph in 1973 after a heart attack, including Dale Sr.’s tragic death in 2001 at the Daytona 500, Randy after losing a battle with cancer in 2013, and Danny just a few weeks ago on December 10th.
Martha Earnhardt is survived by her daughters Kaye and Cathy, as well as her grandchildren including Dale Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and Kerry Earnhardt.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Earnhardt family as they mourn the loss of their sweet grandmother.
