Eurgel Martel

EURGEL G. MARTEL
June 18, 1929 ˜ April 29, 2023

Eurgel G. Martel passed at age 93 on April 29, 2023 of old age. He was born in Grafton, ND, the son of Eurgel and Myrtel Martel. Eurgel’s family can be traced through the Catholic Church records back to Paris, where a young Honore Martel came with the first Carignan Regiment soldiers sent to New France in 1665 under the reign of Louis XIV. The Martel family remained in Canada until Eurgel’s grandfather emigrated to the United States in 1890. Eurgel’s mother’s family emigrated from England.
Eurgel graduated from Lincoln High School in Portland, OR, and Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, where he met the love of his life Marjorie. They were married for nearly 70 years until her passing last fall. He served in the Army in Korea. After a long career as an executive with The Seagram Company, Eurgel volunteered his time with the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, YWCA (as a handyman for their donation store), and countless hours for St. Joseph Catholic Church and School.
He had a wonderful personality and never spoke ill of anyone or anything. He was a warm friend to all and could carry a conversation with anyone. He enjoyed fishing and waterskiing on the Snake and Columbia Rivers in his boat, the Yellow Bird, with his four children. He loved attending their school sports events. He was a talented woodworker, enjoyed reading the news, and searching the internet for how-to videos. Eurgel had a green thumb-he could always be counted on for fresh fruits and vegetables from his gardens. Beautiful flowers bloomed all year in his greenhouse.
Eurgel was preceded in death by his siblings, Gordon, Arthur, and Doris; as well as his wife Marjorie. He is survived by his sons, David, Douglas, and Mark (Karen); and daughter Paula (Scott); grandchildren and great-grandchildren - to each of whom he was devoted and always ready to help.
A Rosary will be held at 10 a.m. and Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Park Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Eurgel’s name to St. Joseph Catholic School (stjoevanschool.org) or St. Vincent de Paul (svdpvancouverusea.org). The Martel family would like to extend our gratitude to all the staff at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and the Ray Hickey Hospice House for their attentiveness and loving care.
Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits