Michael Lee Martin

Michael Lee Martin was born on November 1, 1958, in Sac City, Iowa, to Shirley Ann Martin and the late Leroy Martin. He was raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and was the eldest of four siblings: his brothers Mitch and Tim, and his sister Toni.

After high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he had the opportunity to travel overseas and proudly earned himself the Medal of Good Conduct. After being released from active service in 1979, he found his way to Southern California under unusual circumstances. As Mike put it, one day he picked up a hitchhiker who was headed to California — he drove him there and ended up staying himself. He had been living in California ever since, which perfectly reflected the kind of person he was — free-spirited and uninhibited.

He settled in Long Beach, where he decided to enroll at Los Angeles Harbor College to complete the nursing program. Although he had moments of uncertainty while completing the program due to not being particularly keen on school, his hard work, dedication, and the incredible support he received from friends helped him graduate, become a registered nurse, and go on to work at the Long Beach Veterans Hospital for over 35 years, devoted to serving and helping others.

Over the course of his life, he married twice, fathered two daughters — Jessye Reese Martin and Sophie Anna Martin — and embarked on numerous cross-country adventures, including a bike ride from California to Florida. He loved to read, loved the Lord, and loved “experiencing the elements,” as he always put it, by being out in nature. He especially enjoyed open-water swimming and did so every day at his favorite place, Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, California, where he passed.

Michael was full of love and light, constantly in awe of how beautiful life was. He was deeply passionate about humanity and saw the immense potential in every person he met. He loved with his whole heart and will forever be cherished by his loved ones. Though his physical presence will be deeply missed, his love, wisdom, and spirit will remain with us always.