Obituary of Jack C. Martin

JACK CONNER MARTIN December 26, 1923 – March 14, 2009 Our father, never once complaining, peacefully and comfortably passed on March 14, 2009 at St. Peter’s Hospital with his wife Artyce by his side. Dad was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. A true friend, his generosity was unmatched. Dad was a compassionate, good-natured man who led an active and productive life. He was incredibly hard working, steadfastly honest, and a clean-nick with a quick wit to match. Our dad was born to George Dewey and Mary Conner Martin on December 26, 1923. At just over two pounds birth-weight, he slept on a hot water bottle and was warmed on the oven door for many weeks. Dad was the second of four children, with an older sister, Mary Belle Johnson (deceased) and younger sister, Sally Brown (Lon) of Kirkland; brother, Charles Martin (Betty) of Boise, Idaho. Dad was raised in a historic colonial home on Sylvester Street, not far from the Capitol Buildings. Always creative and very good with his hands, he built a pram at the age of six. By age sixteen, he had built one of the few inboard runabouts and had great fun using it with his siblings and friends on Budd Inlet and beyond. Our father graduated from Olympia High School in 1943, where he was a member of the varsity basketball and track team. After graduating from high school he entered the Army and served in the European Theatre as a member of the 104th Infantry Division (Timberwolves) which liberated the Nordhausen concentration camp. Upon returning from World War II, he attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. There he met his first wife, Sally Ann Yorkston (deceased), they married in December 1948. They had four children, Jack (Colleen), Dan (Georgia Rae), Sue (Rick), and Mary (Dave). Dad and his father started G.D. Martin Company in the late 1940’s. In those days, the company was located in a former skating rink in the Nisqually Valley. In the 1960’s the company moved to the Black Lake location where they manufactured furniture, including folding T.V. tables, U of W dormitory furniture, bank, motel and Legislative furniture. Over the years, his talents stretched from the “famous” shoe shine kit box (which is still in use today) to JFK’s personal desk aboard Air Force One. In 1987, G.D. Martin Company was sold and after a few years of retirement, dad and his son, Dan, built Lathrop Business Park and reopened the furniture business in the name of Martin Furniture Manufacturing. Boating was clearly a passion of dad’s. He kept a fishing boat at Ilwaco for many years and caught his fair share of salmon from the ocean off the Columbia River. Later he boated in the Puget Sound waters, the San Juan’s Islands and the Gulf Islands with frequent stops further North at Echo Bay, B.C. which he especially enjoyed. When asked who he missed the most, he replied “his father”; so much so he named his favorite yacht after him….the George Dewey. How sweet!! He also loved getting behind the wheel of his motor home and traveled from Canada to Mexico and Coast-to-Coast. In his later years, he and Artyce wintered in sunny Palm Desert where they enjoyed stretching their chocolate brown legs on local walks. Dad was a lifelong, active member of the Olympia Yacht Club, a Charter Member of the Westside Rotary, Olympia Elks Club #186, Capitol Lakefair, and the American Legion. Dad is survived by his wife, Artyce; his sister and brother; four children; four grandchildren, Ashley (Andy), Rory, Kyle and Mac; and one delightful great grandson, Finnegan. We appreciate the loving care Artyce gave dad over the years and particularly during his last weeks. A celebration to honor dad’s 85 years in Olympia (he did love a good party!) will be Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Olympia Country and Golf Club. All who knew, loved and appreciated dad are welcome for hors d’oeuvres, stories, and drink.