Jim will be missed by his wife, Teresa Martin; sister, Karen Martin (Steve) Duffy; daughter, Lesley Martin (Dave) Flora, and granddaughters, Violet and Grace; son, James Martin, and grandchildren, Kaiden, Mikah, and Embyr. Jim was much-loved by his step-children, Sue (Stuart) Godfrey, and grandchildren, Elliott, Maggie, and Henry; Pat (Lezlie) McCrory, and grandchildren, Israel, and Eden; Bob (Jennifer) McCrory, and grandchildren, Dillon, Ethan, and Sophia, and John (Melissa) McCrory and grandson, John Junior.
Jim was born Thursday, August 9, 1945, the son of Leslie C. Martin and Margaret A. (Higgins) Martin. Jim lived a long life of service to others through the law degree he obtained with honors from the University of Akron and graduated third in his class and part of the Law Review. He served as an Air Force ROTC Cadet, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1967, and transferred to Honorary Retired Reserve. He loved best helping those who had no other source of assistance. Jim enjoyed his service as the Law Director to the City of Stow, Ohio, and considered it a highlight of his life. Jim also worked in the Arizona Supreme Court and clerked with Justice Cameron in 1970; Carmichael, McClure & Stephens, Phoenix, Arizona as an associate and junior partner from 1971 until 1974; Martin & Calhoun, Kent, Ohio, senior partner from 1973 until 1989; Martin, Calhoun & Wilson, Kent, Ohio from 1989 until 1993; Martin, Rochford & Durr, Stow, Ohio, from 1993 until 1998; Solicitor for the Village of Silver Lake in 1995; Law Director, City of Streetsboro, Ohio, 1998 until 2000; Martin Law Offices, Akron Ohio, 200 until 2003; La Paz County, Deputy County Attorney; Martin Law Offices, Lake Havasu, Arizona; Civil Administration Division, City Attorney’s Office, Mesa, Arizona; and the Acoma Legal Centre, Lake Havasu City, Arizona. His admissions where in Ohio, state and federal, Northern District; Arizona, state and federal, Northern District; In pro hac vice, Florida (wrongful death); Pennsylvania, (prevailing party in an employment matter, 2nd Circuit, (affirmed on appeal); Indiana, (federal bankruptcy) Indianapolis; (felony criminal matter), Noblesville. He practiced law in both Ohio and Arizona, and made friends wherever he went. Jim held other professional licenses including: Ohio real estate brokerage-Martin enterprises, Inc., Kent, Ohio; Arizona real estate brokerage-LHC Realty, Inc. dba “Cartier Realty”; Life, Health, and variable annuity insurances licenses in Ohio; Heritage Title (Ohio) limited partner in title company; and National Heritage Mortgage Company (Ohio mortgage brokerage company).
Jim also taught and was active at Phoenix College; Wayne College; Cleveland State University; University of Akron; Ohio licensed mortgage broker; IMLA member; Akron Bar Association; Portage County Bar Association; Ohio Municipal Bar Association; Ohio State Bar Association; Arizona State Bar Association Federal Bar Association; Who’s Who in American Law 2nd; Who’s Who in Business and Executives; Who’s Who in Ohio; Who’s Who in Business and Executives.
Jim loved hosting others, whether it was in his home or any other of his businesses, and was a generous giver of his time and material possessions. God blessed him with a quirky sense of humor and the gift of gab.
A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2019, at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47304.
Family and friends may visit at Elm Ridge Funeral Home from 12:00 p.m. until service time at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Road S.W., Lilburn, Georgia 30047.
Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.elmridgefuneralhome.com.
