MARTINUS "Mart" RAVEN

Martinus " Mart" Franciscus Johannes Raven was born on August 28, 1913, in Haarlammemeer, Holland and died on Monday, August 2, 2010, just 26 days shy of his 97th birthday. He immigrated to the United States with his family and registered at Ellis Island on March 8, 1925, at the age of 11 years old. His family, who was sponsored by his Uncle Mart, first settled in Corcoran for five years; then Tulare County for two years, finally settling in the Conejo - Wildflower west of Selma, operating a 30 cow dairy during the height of The Depression. As the dairy struggled to survive even back in the 1930's, Mart used to say, "Here we go... another day for nothing." So Mart decided to follow his first passion - singing. Mart traveled to San Francisco to study with a vocal coach that trained young, rising stars such as Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy. The vocal coach was impressed with Mart's good looks and strong vocal abilities. The coach told Mart that he was going to be the next Frank Sinatra. Voice lessons cost $25 per hour, which was very expensive in those days. Mart worked in a gas station, washing windows to pay for his voice lessons but his cash reserves were quickly depleting. So Mart took a job at night singing at "The Kit Kat Club" to earn extra money. When he informed his vocal coach about his new singing engagement, the vocal coach demanded, "You have to choose between the Kit Kat Club or me!" Knowing that he couldn't pay for the singing lessons without the extra income, Mart chose to return home to the dairy. Mart's work on the dairy was cut short in 1938 when his herd was condemned due to tuberculosis. The USDA paid Mart to destroy the herd. Mart was able to pay all of his bills; had $37 left over; and a dream to be a farmer. There was plenty of land available to farm, as the banks owned most of it. He began his farming operation growing cotton on 40 acres, as our nation was still suffering the effects of The Depression under Roosevelt's administration. While singing in the choir loft at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Selma, he spotted a beautiful but shy Portuguese girl, Olivia Rocha. They were introduced by Olivia's brother, Frankie, who was dating Mart's sister Annie. The four of them would go dancing every weekend at the Rainbow Ballroom in Fresno. They were married on June 9, 1942, and settled at a new home that Mart had built for his new bride on Clarkson Avenue, where they lived for the next 68 years. Mart adored his wife Olivia, until the day he died and they were rarely apart. They were blessed with eight children; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Mart's children followed his lead and are all successful farmers in the Wildflower area. Mart was also active in many church activities and community service. He was a life member of the Hanford Elks Lodge; a director at the Laton Cooperative Gin; a Trustee at Conejo School; a member of the state ASCS committee, the Fresno County ASCS committee, the Kings County Sheriff's Posse, and the Knights of Columbus. He was also named Laton's Old Timer of the Year. He was an active member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He participated on the building committee and helped financially to build the new church in 1960 and the church hall in 2009. Mart was a devout Catholic and religiously prayed the Holy Rosary daily. He was a very humble man and gave all of the credit for his personal and financial success to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Nothing gave Mart more pleasure than to sponsor a needy family at Christmastime; take food to the Poverello House; or assist his parish with their financial needs. I am the vine...you are the branches ...whoever abides in me bears much fruit. John 15:5 The family would like to thank Optimal Hospice for their wisdom, caring and kindness shown to Mart during the last nine months. They would also like to thank Mart's caregivers Hortencia Pallares, Cecilia Torrecillas, and Mari Salgado for their selfless love and care given to Dad these last few years. We have lost a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, farmer, philanthropist, mentor and friend - he will be greatly missed. But we find comfort in knowing that he is feasting with our Lord, Jesus Christ; he is reunited with his loved ones, especially his son Marty after 57 years; and he left a legacy on earth that we can only strive to fill. By attempting to honor Jesus Christ, in all that we do, we also honor the memory of Mart Raven. Mart was preceded in death by his parents, William and Pauline Raven; his sisters, Dora Romero and Annie Rocha; his brothers, Phillip Raven and Tony Raven; his infant son, Marty Raven; and his grandson-in-law, Joseph Menezes. He is survived by Olivia, his beloved wife of 68 years; his daughter, Virginia Souza and her husband Ernie; his son, Timothy Raven and his wife Debbie; his son, Ted Raven and his wife Donna; his daughter, Sharen Colliver and her husband Paul; his daughter, Sandy Gonsalves and her husband Bennie; his son, Mark Raven and his wife Angie, all residing in Selma; and his son, Scott Raven and his wife Charlyse, who reside in Kingsburg. Mart is also survived by his grandchildren, Shane Souza and his wife Staci, Tracy Raven-Winters and her husband Nick, Randy Souza and his wife Pam, Annette Raven, Shannen Menezes, Jeremy Raven and his wife Lisa, Sara Maloney and her husband, Jay; Brooks Gonsalves and his wife Janell, Dee Dee Buchanan and her husband Scott, Brittany Raven, Tatum Kerber and her husband Anthony, Kylie Raven, Cody Raven, Zachary Raven, Kaci Raven, and Issac Raven; and his great-grandchildren, Raven Landseadal, Pierce Souza, Rachel Landseadal, Maverick Souza, Brooke Gonsalves, Noah Menezes, Bohdi Gonsalves, Cole Raven, Cameron Raven, Preston Souza, Carly Raven, Miles Maloney, and Claire Buchanan. He also leaves behind many relatives; extended family members; and friends. A Visitation will be held at Page Funeral Chapel in Selma on Thursday, August 5, 2010, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 2441, Dockery Avenue in Selma on Friday, August 6, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at the Floral Memorial Park immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family of Mart Raven requests that remembrances be made to the following charities: St. Josep's Catholic Church, Parish Hall Building Fund, 2441 Dockery Avenue, Selma, Ca. 93662; The Poverello House, P.O. Box 12225, Fresno, Ca. 93777-2225; or Catholic Charities, 149 N. Fulton Street, Fresno, Ca. 93701. PAGE FUNERAL CHAPEL 2014 Arrants Street Selma, California (559)896-1240