Maurice (Marty) Martin dies at 77
Maurice (Marty) Martin dies at 77
Maurice (Marty) Leon Martin, 77, of Salinas, CA, died of cancer Saturday, Nov. 3, in his home surrounded by his family.
Mr. Martin was born Oct. 17, 1930, in West Chicago, IL. He was the only child of Oral and Ella Martin. He left West Chicago to serve in the U.S. Army as part of the 11th Airborne Division during the Korean War. After leaving the Army, he started working in the produce business and continued in the trade for more than 50 years. At the time of his death, he was working for Mills Family Farms in Salinas and was proud to have been with the firm for over 20 years.
"I met and befriended Marty when we were in the army attending the adjutant general's school for six months starting in November 1951," Basil Mills, founder and co-owner of Mills Family Farms, said in a statement.
"I am proud and honored to have had the opportunity to have Marty as a friend for the last 56 years. Mills Family Farms and the agriculture industry have lost one of the best in the business, and he will be missed by everyone that knew him. I have been truly blessed by Marty's friendship throughout the years and ask now for God's blessings upon his family during this difficult time."
Mr. Martin was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Opal, whom he married May 28, 1955; his son Jeffrey; and his mother, Ella. Survivors include his daughters, Janice Stone and Betsy Martin and their husbands Darryl Stone and Kevin Kipnis; Mr. Martin's eight-year-old best friend, a rescue St. Bernard dog named Merry, and his two cats, Puff and Panther.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a group that helps seriously ill patients with the control of pain and offers group support in their time of need (wamm.org), or the SPCA of Monterey County (spcamc.org).
Mr. Martin was born Oct. 17, 1930, in West Chicago, IL. He was the only child of Oral and Ella Martin. He left West Chicago to serve in the U.S. Army as part of the 11th Airborne Division during the Korean War. After leaving the Army, he started working in the produce business and continued in the trade for more than 50 years. At the time of his death, he was working for Mills Family Farms in Salinas and was proud to have been with the firm for over 20 years.
"I met and befriended Marty when we were in the army attending the adjutant general's school for six months starting in November 1951," Basil Mills, founder and co-owner of Mills Family Farms, said in a statement.
"I am proud and honored to have had the opportunity to have Marty as a friend for the last 56 years. Mills Family Farms and the agriculture industry have lost one of the best in the business, and he will be missed by everyone that knew him. I have been truly blessed by Marty's friendship throughout the years and ask now for God's blessings upon his family during this difficult time."
Mr. Martin was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Opal, whom he married May 28, 1955; his son Jeffrey; and his mother, Ella. Survivors include his daughters, Janice Stone and Betsy Martin and their husbands Darryl Stone and Kevin Kipnis; Mr. Martin's eight-year-old best friend, a rescue St. Bernard dog named Merry, and his two cats, Puff and Panther.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, a group that helps seriously ill patients with the control of pain and offers group support in their time of need (wamm.org), or the SPCA of Monterey County (spcamc.org).