Susie Jane Martin

Susie Jane (Vinzant) Martin was born August 11th, 1940. She was the 5th of 6 children. She was born in Thornton, Wyoming but her family moved to Sheridan, Wyoming when she was 3 or 4. In the spring of her Junior year in High School (1957), she, her folks, her brother Allen and Rose moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Susie finished her school year by correspondence with her high school in Wyoming because the school in Anchorage did not have bookkeeping or accounting classes.

While in Alaska she and her family attended Chagiak Chapel where she met Minor Martin. Even after she and her family moved back to Sheridan in August of 1957 she and Minor continued to correspond. As soon as she graduated high school she flew back up to Anchorage. She stayed with a family friend and started working at the First National Bank in Anchorage in the Auditing Department. Minor and Susie continued to see each other; they were married August 15th 1958. They had originally planned an October wedding, but were informed by their friends that was hunting season and had to change the date.

Between then and 1973 they had three children Les, Char and Martha; Lived in Alaska, Idaho and Arizona before moving to Portland, Oregon in April of 1973. Soon thereafter settling in Damascus, Oregon where they would live for many years. Over the years Susie was always involved in the church, often teaching Sunday School classes and Children’s Church. She put her bookkeeping skills to use helping many churches and businesses set up their books correctly.

After the passing of her husband Minor Martin in 2011 she made the decision to move to California. The warmer and drier climate were better for her health and she was closer to her daughter Martha and Granddaughter Nicole. There she spent the rest of her days making quilts, taking her dog Jasper for walks and enjoying life.

She passed away on July 24th 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband Minor Dee Martin and survived by her children Les (Donita), Char and Martha; 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. A private memorial will be held at Willamette National Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.