Mr. Martin Gramps A. Mentzer

The two brothers spent their youth creating a myriad of businesses together. Although Martin never pursued a college degree, he had both an innovative and perfectionist approach to his work. Most of Martin and Carleton’s work was in the form of construction projects and property ownership. During this time the brothers built a laundry, which was maintained by their parents as their source of income for many years.

In 1959 Martin met Carolyn Yvonne Zeik in a Western Union office, while he was working at a tile shop in Farmington, NM. Martin and Carolyn moved a few years later to the Portland area. As a natural extension of his training in construction, Martin found work in 1964 as a building inspector for Multnomah County and the City of Portland. His interest and expertise in buildings and construction would carry him through this career for over 40 years. His co-workers describe him as a cornerstone in the inspector program, noting he was always positive and reliable. After Martin retired from the City of Portland in 2005, he continued, as has Carolyn, to work for the Multnomah Law Library in downtown Portland, a combined tenure of over 80 years.

Martin enjoyed spending time with his family, watching everyone enjoy special moments together. Since 2002, with the adoption of his grandson Damir from Kazakhstan, Martin took a special interest in church youth missions, and helped support several mission-related trips. He was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ. In his later years, Martin spent his leisure time supporting and following the political career of Barack Obama.

Martin and Carolyn would be celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary on May 9, 2010. Martin died of a sudden stroke on April 25, 2010. He is missed greatly by his entire family.

Martin is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carolyn; sons, Stephen and wife Carolyn and their daughters – Stephanie and Shelby; Eric and Kathrine. Daughters, Serena E. Meek, and husband Bryan and their children – Garrett, Brianna and Damir; Laura A. Richardson and husband Jim and their children – Hannah and Ben and Martin’s brother Carleton A Mentzer II.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, 2010, in Skyline Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.