“Hey you...”
Martin Ryan Smith peacefully passed away on July 31, 2020 at the age of 71 at his home in Littlerock California surrounded by loved ones.
Born on October 11, 1948 in Houston Texas to Marshall Roy Jr and Lois
Manchaca Smith. Martin carried the nickname Rocky his entire life and was surprised to learn his real name on the first day of school when the Nun was calling roll. Martin was a Catholic boy and a troublemaker whose charm got him out of most everything - except for the weekend spent in Louisiana getting drunk with a cousin. After being hauled back to Houston he was taken directly to the Army recruiting office by his former Marine father. Martin walked himself out of that office and signed up for the Navy instead,
because there would be "less walking" involved. As a boiler technician aboard the USS Chandler, Martin sailed the world and landed on Terminal Island in Long Beach California where he was stationed and never left. A Texas boy through and through, he had found his home in California. Martin received several medals for his efforts in the vietnam war.
Martin was known for his signature outfit; black slacks, pearl snap western shirts, cowboy boots and Members Only jackets, but no cowboy hat as it would ruin his perfectly styled hair. He eventually moved on to dark jeans and pullovers but everyone who knew him remembers his signature look.
In his professional life he gave up his dream of becoming an electrician while in the Navy when it was discovered he was color blind and couldn't tell the wires apart. After the Navy he worked in a tuna cannery before moving into the field of aerospace. Starting out as a screw machinist on the line he eventually established a partnership as the #1 hands on engineer with Marroquin Industries Corporation, the exclusive Davenport machine dealer for the western United States. He retired in December of 2018.
In his spare time Martin was never idle. He loved going to the NHRA drag races and was always tinkering with something. He was happiest when he was taking apart or putting things back together, particularly his classic cars and especially when one of his children was nearby to help out or listen to what he was doing and planning. Martin adored his children and put their wellbeing above his own every single time. He was a well respected, hard working family man, who never complained and always got things
done. Martin joins his parents in heaven and leaves behind his siblings: Marshall Smith III, Carol Mausbach and Robert Smith and their families. Martin will live on in the hearts and memories of those that love him and miss him terribly, his family: wife Nelly Yolanda Smith, daughter Susan Munoz and husband Mauricio Munoz with grandchildren Candace and Joey, son Martin Smith Jr, daughter Tammy Smith and husband Samuel Renderos with grandchildren Julissa and Sophie, daughter Nicole Smith and daughter Melissa Smith as well as three great grandchildren. In Lieu of flowers - get your hands dirty, take something apart and figure out how it works, check your oil and tire pressure, it's what he would have wanted.
FAMILY
Nely Yolanda SmithWife
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