Michael Marty Martin

The early years - (family- want to share anecdotes? )

Our story -

I first met Mike in 1974 when I moved to Milford CT. I was 14 and he was 16. We dated for a wonderful 18 months, but like all young love, eventually drifted apart We remained friends, and as he used to say, he loved me from the first, and when he heard about my engagement, joined the Navy. (truth? who knows, but it's a nice story) Recently, I found a card that I had sent him when he was shipping out. It was read during the service (see below service readings)

Mike and my grandparents were always very close, and unbeknownst to me, used to visit them on leave whenever he could.

Fast forward 4 years to 1982.

Leaving from a bad marriage, I came home to stay with an overnight bag, 2 guitars and a bottle of wine. A few hours later, Mike, just released from the service, comes strolling up my grandmother's driveway to visit her with a six pack of beer, not knowing I would be there. I leaped into familiar arms, and the rest is history.

Mike taught me many things, starting with helping me to find myself, when he saw how emotionally vulnerable I was from my previous marriage. The perfect compliment, we had the ability to think on different wavelengths, with the two viewpoints creating the perfect cohesion for the end result. We fixed cars, remodeled the house, two hammers always swinging side by side. I might have lacked a little confidence at some of it, but having him near, gave me the ability to try and succeed in most things. We relished the wind, water and sun on our skin, as we shared our favorite getaways, usually involving whitewater or nature.

Mike was extremely family oriented and always willing to help a friend or neighbor. I will bullet point some memorable times and characteristics, but they will not compare to the 42 years that I spent with my best friend, partner and soul mate.

-- TIME LINE--

July 1985- Married at Mom and Dad;s house in Orange, CT

November 1988- As a 50th birthday gift, it was his great joy and honor to legally adopt his stepfather, Raymond McDonald. (first in the judge's history of a son adopting the father)

2002 - Surgery for neck fusion and diagnosed with severe degeneration of the spine at 5 levels.

2004- While he loved his job at Krell Industries, he sadly had to give it up due to his medical condition.

2010- Reunited with his sister's children, Michael, Michelle and Monica.

2012- After the company that I worked for closed, he requested that we consider moving to Florida, as he could no longer tolerate the cold weather with the back issues.

2013- I leave for Florida to land a position and find a new home, while Mike starts getting the house ready for sale. It would be a long lonely 2 years later, before we were finally living together again.

June 2015- House finally sells! Plans in motion! New house is purchased with Mike never seeing it other than in pictures, but as we shared very similar tastes, he's not worried. (he loved it! )

July 2015- Happy 30th Anniversary. A simple doctor's visit due to concerns of swelling and weight loss land him in the hospital the same day. Our anniversary was spent with me frantic in Florida and him intubated at Milford Hospital diagnosed with severe COPD.

September 2015- House is sold and while Mike was not up to a lot, we managed with the help of family to get the packing done , and hit the road with Mike, his oxygen, Brodie and a very full Ford Explorer.

October 2015- Camping at the house for 3 weeks waiting on moving van to arrive. One week after it arrives, he is hospitalized with his first bout of pneumonia.

December 2015 - By trip two to the hospital, he was bed bound, too weak to stand, with the spinal stenosis gradually worsening.

April 2016- 5 months, 5 different hospital stays, 3 nursing homes, and a total of 5 bouts of pneumonia later, Mike opts for Hospice after being told that some of the infections are antibiotic resistant and cannot be cured.

April 16, 2016- Passes peacefully at Hospice Care Center, Orange City, FL .

Mike's Best Friends -

(Childhood) Donny Hannon

1980 plus - Brent (Greg ) Carrington

The Krell Gang :)

Mike's Joys -

Watching my nieces grow from infant to adults, after teaching them how to camp, fish, and shoot pool

Playing poker every Holy Thursday with the gang from Krell (I love you guys! ) Dave, Mark, Gary, Jerry, and Tommy.

Camping with our neighbor Chet once a year.

Our dogs - Nitro, Zap, Taylor and Brodie.

Family, family, family!

Mike's Florida Dreams -

"Hanging out with my Dad fishing, watching some launches, and shooting at the range".

Day trips with me discovering our new state and history.

Finally hooking up his 7.2 surround sound for movie nights.

The Pastor at the Memorial Service said it best. "I did not know him, but in viewing the pictures, I see a man that was ALWAYS smiling". That was so Mike. Always happy, cherishing the joy of life.

On behalf of my best friend, partner and soul mate, I would like to offer our deepest thanks and appreciation to all of his friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and Navy buddies for your support, friendship and love. You all made his life so rich and abundant, and he loved you all!

Music Played just prior to the service (Mike and my favorites)

Father and Son by Cat Stevens (was Mike's fav and "our song" , as it came out when we first met.

Blue Jean Blues by ZZ Top. (Mike's favorite)

Into the West by Annie Lennox (I thought it fitting)

Let it Be by the Beatles

"Good Riddance" by Green Day

Cannon in D / Violin Version by Pachelbel

Readings from the Celebration of Life Service for those who could not attend or who wanted to recap.

NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER

I give you this one thought to keep-

I am with you still, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle, autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight,

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone,

I am with you still - in each new dawn.

RUBERT BROOKE (found among Mike's things - I had given him this card in 1982.)

Today, I have been happy.

All the day I held the memory of you,

and wove it's laughter with the dancing light of the spray,

And sowed the sky with tiny clouds of love,

And sent you following the white waves of the sea.

LOVED

Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.

I have sent up my gladness on wings, to be lost in the blue of the sky.

I have run and leaped with the rain, I have taken the wind to my breast.

My cheeks like a drowsy child to the face of the earth I have pressed.

Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.

I have kissed young love on the lips, I have heard his song to the end,

I have struck my hand like a seal in the loyal hand of a friend.

I have known the peace of heaven, the comfort of work done well.

I have longed for death in the darkness and risen alive out of hell.

Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.

I gave a share of my soul to the world,

when and where my course is run.

I know that another shall finish the task I surely must leave undone.

I know that no flower, nor flint was in vain on the path I trod.

As one looks on a face through a window, through life I have looked on God,

Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.

Amelia Burr, American poet (1878 – 1968)\

LORD, WE TURN TO YOU

From the Jewish Funeral Service Prayer Book

Lord, we turn to you in our grief and bewilderment,

for a mystery surrounds the birth and death of man.

Your will summons us into this world an then calls us to depart,

but Your plan is so vast and Your purposes so deep

that our understanding fails, and our reason cannot follow.

Yet You have taught us that time and space are not the measure

of all things.

Beyond them is the life of eternity.

We do not die into the grave but into the love of God.

It has been Your will to receive the soul of him/her,

to bring him/her to the life everlasting,

and she/he is beyond the tragedies of this world.

We shall find our comfort in Your teaching.

Beyond the grave we shall meet together

in the life that has no end.

My requested funeral closing (which was read earlier )..

As Sara's grandfather used to say when he tucked the kids in at night..

"Peace, may the Angels watch over you. Hasta Mañana".

Mike had military honors, complete with a live bugler. All 3 of the Honor Guard were Navy.

Mike was cremated and rests in Brevard Memorial Cemetery, Cocoa Florida, alongside a beautiful cremation garden about 50 feet across from his Mom.

FINAL PRAYER IN THE MEMORIAL CARDS:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

may God hold you

in the palm of His hand.