Maura-Anne Therese Eastman
November 12, 1949-August 21, 2025

Maura-Anne Therese Eastman passed away peacefully at her home in Ferndale, California, on August 21, 2025, with her beloved daughter, Amy, holding her hand. Maura was born on November 12, 1949, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to James and Marion Grady. She spent her early childhood there with her older brother and younger sister before the family relocated to LIvermore, California, in 1956. She attended St. Michael’s Elementary School and graduated from Livermore High School. Maura went on to study at Merritt College in Oakland and began her administrative career at Jackson and Perkins Roses, followed by Lehar Sales.

After moving to Montclair in the early 1970’s, she began working as the administrative assistant for Cowell Memorial Hospital at UC Berkeley. While working in Berkeley, she met her future husband, Tom Eastman, and within a year, on July 19, 1975 they were married in Pleasanton, California. It was at their home in Montclair where their love and passion for landscaping and gardening evolved. In 1982 they decided to leave the hustle and bustle of the big city and purchased the Fortuna Nursery and Flower Shop. Shortly after, they found their forever-home and discovered a love for Victorian architecture, buying the Alford-Neilson House on Main Street in Ferndale, where they lived the rest of their lives. In 1985 Tom and Maura welcomed their daughter, Amy, into the family. Amy loved to spend time at the Nursery and Flower Shop where Maura instilled her love of floral design in Amy, which she treasures to this day.

After the sale of the Nursery and Flower Shop in 1995, Maura returned to administrative work. She briefly worked for Banker Benefits of California before beginning her career with two local Native American tribes. Maura worked for the Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria as they initiated the casino project and quickly moved into the Social Services Department. She built strong connections to the families and staff, which she maintained after making a move to the Wiyot Tribe, also located in Loleta. Maura was the Social Service Director for the Wiyot Tribe before becoming the Tribal Administrator. Over the next decade, Maura took enormous pride in serving the members of the tribe and was honored to be included in many family gatherings and to learn about their traditions. She cherished the friendships she made there for the rest of her days.

Maura spent the next decade of her professional life at Redwood Community Action Agency, serving as the Director of the Youth Service Bureau. She led programs for homeless and runaway youth in her community, including the youth shelter, drop-in center, and programs for foster youth aging out of the system. She was instrumental in the purchase of The Sarah Turner House, an apartment building for youth aging out of foster care and served on many local and state advisory committees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maura took on the role of CEO of Vector Rehabilitation in Eureka before ending her career in 2023.

Throughout her life, Maura gave so generously of her time and energy, serving on numerous community boards and committees, including: Redwood Memorial Hospital Benefit Ball Committee, California Nursery Association, Humboldt County Human Rights Commission, Humboldt State University President’s Native American Advisory Council, the Workforce Investment Board-Youth Council, Access Humboldt Board of Directors, Humboldt County Alcohol and Other Drug Committee, Southwest Rotary Club of Eureka, Humboldt Housing and Homeless Coalition-Executive Committee, Humboldt Community Task Force as well as the Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council and many others.

Above everything else in her life, Maura cherished being a mother. Her greatest joy was raising Amy, and considered it the most important role she had. She was a devoted mother and loving wife, as well as a dear friend to many. Maura enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening and visiting with her friends in her spare time. She had award-winning pies and jams she would enter into the Alameda County Fair and floral displays she and Tom would create for the Humboldt County Fair. She was a proud member of the Ferndale Community Choir for over 20 years, which she shared with Amy and sang in her church choir for many years as well. Maura met every challenge life gave her face-on. She was a breast cancer survivor and long-term care giver to her husband. In 2017, after 6 years on dialysis, she was given the ultimate gift of life when she received a kidney donation from her dear friend, Angela Smith-an act of generosity Maura never took for granted. Maura’s strength, sense of humor, grace, compassion, and selflessness were just some of the incredible qualities that so many loved about her.

Maura is survived by her loving daughter, Amy (Korsen Yu); her brother, Jim Grady (Carollane); her sister, Kathleen Tomari (Kazuo); niece, Yumi RIcciardi (Rick); nephews Billy Priest (David), Michael Grady (Maryanne) and Kenji Tomari; great niece Aria Ricciardi; great nephews Declan and Kian Ricciardi; as well as many cousins and extended family. Maura was preceded in death by her parents, James and Marion Grady; her mother and father in law, Joe and Mary Storti; her husband, Tom Eastman; and her niece, Misa Tomari.

A funeral mass will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 4 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption, 546 Berding Street in Ferndale. A reception to follow at the Sitka Wine Lounge at 475 Main Street in Ferndale. If you wish to make a donation in Maura’s name, please consider the dedicated Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department (PO Box 485, Ferndale, CA 95536) or a charity of your choice.