Cecil Avery Martin

Cecil Avery Martin Cecil Avery Martin passed away February 13, 2005 surrounded by his family and friends. He is the grandson of Frederick William Martin, a German immigrant, and Jane Brooks Martin. Cecil is the son of Nelson A. Martin and Bessie Brown Martin. He was born December 26, 1918 in Goose Creek, Texas part of Baytown, Texas at that time, and was a fifth generation Texan. He was predeceased by his infant daughter, Sharon Marie Martin, his parents and his brother, Collin Floyd Martin of Houston, Texas. Cecil is survived by his wife, Louise Trammell Martin, his daughter, Melanie Martin, his son, Murray Rodgers Martin and wife, Peggy Henderson Martin, and their two daughters, Tyler Martin and Camryn Martin. He was graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas and from the University of Texas in 1943 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Two tragic Texas historical events influenced his life: In 1937 the gas explosion of the New London school occurred, killing 296 students and teachers. He and his brother had attended the school the previous year. They returned to help bury their classmates. In 1947 the French steamship GRANDCAMP exploded in Texas City where Cecil was employed by an oil company. He had left the city the previous day to return to Baytown because he had the flu. He returned to Texas City to help bury many of his coworkers and friends. Cecil was employed by the American Oil Company in Texas City, Texas for thirty years and resided in Dickinson, Texas where he was active in the First United Methodist Church and in the Boy Scouts. He was largely responsible for obtaining the donation of a large hall to be used as a Teenagers Club. Cecil maintained a vacation home in Woodland Park, Colorado in the area of Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs for more than twenty years. Cecil was an avid fisherman and hunter of geese and ducks. He was a member of the Coastal Conservation Society. He was president of the Martin Real Estate Company in Baytown, Texas in the nineties. He also served as president of the Texas Coating Society in the Houston area. After his retirement from Amoco he joined OSHA in Houston, Texas for six years. He moved to Austin, Texas in 1981 and was employed by the Texas Department of Health as an Occupational Safety Engineer and traveled to all parts of the state in this capacity in response to requests from businesses in need of assistance. He was a member of the University United Methodist Church in Austin and of the Couples Plus Class since 1981. To his family and those whose lives he touched, he leaves a legacy of simple virtues. The codes he taught were the codes he lived by. He spoke the truth, he kept his promises, he lived with a quiet strength and a healthy sense of humor. He always loved his family with unwavering devotion. He passes on from his father a love of the sport and art of fishing, and a respect of nature. He taught us to leave a place cleaner than we found it, to take only your limit of fish, and to be generous in helping others in need. Through these many gifts, his spirit and love live on. A Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 18, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Barrett Renfro and Reverend Joe Ader officiating, in the University United Methodist Church, 24th and Guadalupe St., Austin, Texas, (parking is available at 25th and Guadalupe St.). Interment will be in the Martin Family Plot of the Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church in Baytown, Texas on Saturday, February 26th, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. The family expresses gratitude for the special support from the Couples Plus Class, by The Gathering, Alzheimer’s Respite Ministry of the Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church and by the Stonebridge Health Center of Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to the above institutions or the University of Texas College of Engineering, University Station C2104 Austin, Texas 78712. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com