Jerry Martin

1935 - 2025

Jerry was born on July 9th, 1935, on his grandparents' ten-acre farm near Tenino, Washington. The farm bordered a huge forest of fir and other trees, with a river running through it. Jerry's teenage interests included exploring the environment for miles around, observing the wildlife, fishing, hunting, collecting rocks and fossils, swimming, raising chickens and mallard ducks, gardening, and cutting up fallen trees for firewood. He would often explore an abandoned coal mine deep in the forest along the river.

To earn money, Jerry picked seasonal fruit and vegetables, did haying jobs, sold cascara and fir cones, eggs, scrap iron, and recycled beer bottles he collected after the Grange Hall Saturday-night dances.

In January 1954, at the age of eighteen, he reported to the San Diego Navy Training Center. Following his training for wartime service, Jerry was sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he learned to sweep, mop, clean garbage cans, and pull kitchen duty. From Albuquerque he was transferred to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was assigned to the Recreation Department for two years. There he was taught "advanced" sweeping and mopping, along with other various duties. For his remaining ten months of service, Jerry was assigned to the USS Savage, a radar picket ship that provided coastal security along the western coast of America during the latter days of the Korean War.

Upon his honorable discharge, Jerry used the G.I. Bill to attend a Junior College and then a four-year college in Bellingham, Washington, receiving a B.A. in Recreation. He then accepted the position of Assistant Field Director for the American Red Cross at Fort Ord, California. This job not being to his liking, he took a state job as an Activity Leader at a school in Monterey, California.

On August 24th, 1966, Jerry and Mary Beth were married. Needing a better paying job to raise a family, Jerry accepted a position as a Rehabilitation Therapist with a specialty in recreation at Napa State Hospital, in Napa, California.

While in Napa, Jerry was very active in the churches the family attended, serving at various times as an elder, deacon, and many years as a Royal Ranger commander (a Christian scouting organization).

After thirty years of State service, Jerry retired in December 1995 at the age of sixty. During his retirement years Jerry remained active in his church, took oil painting classes, served as a volunteer for the California Highway Patrol, and avidly pursued his gardening passion. Jerry and Mary Beth also enjoyed traveling to visit family and went on several cruises.

On October 13th, 2025, Jerry went into the presence of our Lord at the age of ninety. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth Martin, his children, Brian Martin, Scott Martin, Lavonne Martin, Tod Martin, ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren, brother, Don Martin, and sister Wilma Garlington.

The family will hold a private memorial service. Jerry Martin