Donald Ray Martin

December 12th, 1939 - May 7th, 2021

Memorial

Mementos

Loved Ones

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 10th at 10:00 a.m. at Wright Community Congregational Church (4821 Franklin Road, Boise). This is a true celebration of his life - attire is casual, as he would want it! :-)

Donald Ray Martin, 81, of Boise Idaho, died on May 7, 2021.

He was born in Eugene, Oregon, December 12, 1939. During his teenage years, Don worked at his grandfather’s auction, where – unknowingly – he met his future wife. Don attended Springfield High School, where he played football and completed two years in the Naval Reserves. After graduating high school, Don served two years active duty in the Navy between 1959-1960. During this time he was assigned to the U.S.S. Lenawee as a radarman and was able to see many parts of world including Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and Pearl Harbor. He talked often of the places he’d been and the customs and culture he observed. One of his prominent Navy memories was crossing the equator and becoming a “Shellback”. (See photos 1, 2, 3)

Don attended college at Oregon State University and completed his education at Eugene Technical/Vocational school obtaining his certification as a Forestry Technician.

He married the love of his life, Nancy Driskill, on June 1, 1962. (See photos 4, 5, 6)

Don worked for the Springfield Georgia-Pacific Mill while completing his education. Don & Nancy moved to North Bend/Coos Bay in 1965. Don went to work for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1965 and remained in that position until 1987. During this time he worked on reforestation and cross-pollination projects to support the nation’s natural lands. He was known to stand on the helicopter skids while wearing a harness to lean out of the helicopter and pick cones from the tops of trees. Don was passionate about reforestation and protecting our natural resources - a man ahead of his time. He also fought wildland fires during the summer months, traveling to many different states to support those efforts.

Don belonged to many philanthropic organizations. He was active in the Elks (BPOE #1160) and served as the Exalted Ruler of that lodge in 1974-1975. He enjoyed his time with family and fellow Elks. Don joined the Masonic fraternity (North Bend, #140) in the late 1970s and was an active member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriners (Al Kader Temple), and the Scottish Rite (Coos Bay Valley Temple). (See photos 7, 8, 9)

During his time in the Shriners, he enjoyed membership in the Shriners’ Clown group, where he went by the name ‘Doc’. One of the most touching moments of his time with the Shriners was when visiting the Children’s Hospital and hearing about the amazing work made possible through the support of the Shriners. His membership in the Masonic fraternity led to the involvement of children and grandchildren in familial organizations. (See photos 10, 11)

Don & Nancy relocated to eastern Oregon in 1989 where Don went to work as a Fire Dispatcher for the Vale BLM office. His final position was at the Snake River Correctional Facility in the Administration Department and he retired in 2003. The last few years in eastern Oregon were particularly cold and there were several days with so much snow they couldn’t get out of the driveway on their ranch to get to work. Don said he “never wanted to be cold again”.

Don & Nancy spent the next few years in Arizona, enjoying the lack of snow.

In 2008 they moved to Boise, Idaho to be near family. (See photo 12) When he returned to Boise, although officially retired, Don began working at the Idaho Ronald McDonald House as a weekend manager. The families and staff enjoyed having him there. While in Boise, Don joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles and remained active in the Elks lodge.

Don had many hobbies and enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, golfing, boating, camping, and traveling with family. Many weekends and vacations were spent with the boat at a lake or in the bay. Don was a family man and several of his activities revolved around children, grandchildren and their activities, including camping with the Boy Scouts, attending baton twirling competitions and parades, joining the Job’s Daughters’ Caravan to the Shriners’ hospital, and attending baseball games. Don was always a college football fan and in later years spent many weekends with family and friends at Boise State Bronco “tailgating” parties and then enjoying the games. He became a diehard Bronco fan and wavered only slightly when they played Oregon State University – and not at all when the played the University of Oregon. (See photos 13, 14)

He had a sweet tooth and one of his favorite activities was baking chocolate chip cookies. Don was able to introduce many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the fine art of cookie baking. He was known to have Tootsie Rolls in his pockets for grandchildren to ‘discover’. (See photos 15, 16)

He is remembered as the person who would help a stranger, played Santa at the Elk’s Family Christmas party, the one who water-skied with a baseball cap and a cigar in his mouth, who build enormous fires in the fireplace and woodstove, built stilts, and rode 3-wheelers with his family.

Don loved the American Bald Eagle and the American Flag for what they represented; he was a proud veteran who loved his family above all else. (See photos 17, 18)

He was preceded in death by parents James Daniel Martin and JoLana (Putman) Martin; and his son Kevin Lee Martin.

He was survived by wife Nancy (Driskill) Martin; children

Daughter: Teresa Jo (Martin) Stanfill, (husband Joe Stanfill)

Granddaughter Heather Anne (Stanfill) Dillon, (husband Matt Dillon)

Great granddaughters Olivia Mae and Sophie Marie Dillon

Grandson Kevin Christopher Stanfill, (wife Amy Stanfill)

Daughter: Julia Ann (Martin) Koster, (husband Steve Koster)

Granddaughter Katlin (Katy) Rae Pelroy, (husband Steven Pelroy)

Great granddaughter Iris Gray Pelroy

Granddaughter Dannah Leigh Nass (husband Alexandre Nass)

Great granddaughter Eve Ayala Nass

Granddaughter Kendra Jean Koster