Marlys Victoria Martin

She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Art Martin.

Marlys was the youngest of seven children, born 2.24.1931 in a farmhouse in Max, North Dakota to

Josephine and Earl James. In 1937, when Marlys was six years old the drought made farming

unsustainable and the family moved to Kirkland.

At Juanita elementary school Marlys knew of a classmate, Art Martin, who was a few years older than her.

When she was a senior at Lake Washington High School, Art was on leave from the Navy and a friend

introduced them. Their first date was to her high school graduation dance. This began their courtship

and they were married a year later in 1949 at Holy Family Catholic Church.

In 1954, with three small children and another on the way, Marlys was eager to have a house to raise their

children. She was the one who found a 1.25 acre property on Rose Hill for sale. They bought the land for

$3000 and built the house that they would live in for the next 70 years and raise their six children.

The large yard was like a playground gathering place for neighborhood kids, playing hide and seek in the

scotch broom, climbing on the “Big Rock”, and playing baseball complete with a backstop Art built.

After Art passed away in 2020, Marlys remained in the family home until two years ago when she moved

to an assisted living apartment at Cogir in Mill Creek. The move was challenging for her. Marlys’

caregivers not only provided her care but also friendship that she truly appreciated.

Marlys will be greatly missed by her children; Arthur (Marilyn) of Texas, Kenneth, Richard (Catherine),

LuAnn Corcoran (Mike), Mark (Linda) and Donna all of Washington. Her seventh child, John Patrick, died

in infancy and they are now becoming acquainted in heaven. She also had 16 grandchildren and 25

great grandchildren that she enjoyed, as well as one great great grandchild!

Marlys was devoted to her favorite charity, St Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota. This

was her mother Josephine’s favorite charity and when her mom died Marlys continued to support it for

the next 54 years! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to St Joseph’s Indian School,

online at: STJO.org/flowers or by mail: St Joseph’s Indian School, PO Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325.