Martin C. DeVries Jr.

Martin Christian DeVries, Jr. was born in Beaumont, Texas on April 17, 1920. He moved to Houston with his family as a young boy. He was raised in the depression so he learned the value of value at an early age which made him part of the greatest generation. He married Wilma Lee Frank and served in the Navy in World War II as part of the 31st Construction Battalion. He ended up on Iwo Jima and was very proud of the fact that he was part of the group of amazing men that were able to build the road that “couldn’t be built” to the top of Mount Suribachi and the runway that landed the Enola Gay on its way to Japan, which was huge in bringing the war to an end.

After the war, he joined the painters union and followed his father’s vocation of painting and wall covering; the first step in his life long career as a commercial painting contractor. Soon he and Wilma started a family. He lived during an era when parenting and children were not as celebrated as they are now. Not that being a father wasn’t important; it just wasn’t quite the glorified pursuit it is now. “I love you’s” weren’t tossed around freely and it wasn’t common to place children above career or other responsibilities. He worked. He made a good living for his family. Picnics were to Ellington Field where there were barracks that needed to be painted, Family vacations were to PDCA conventions where the kids could play in the pool and he could attend his trade meetings.

Martin DeVries was a good man. The world is a better place for his having been here and we are all better for having known him. His business associates were some of his best friends. He was respected in the work community by his peers and general contractors alike. He was twice elected president of the National Painting and Decorating Contractors of America. He was a Shriner. He was happy to be even a small part of the work that the Shiners’ Hospital did with children. He was a long-time member of the Downtown Rotary Club and traveled extensively playing golf with the International Rotary Golf Fellowship. He became lay-pastor of the church he grew up in. Sometimes his church acquaintances were surprised to find out that he was a successful business man, but his business associates were never surprised by his faith.

Martin had an undying love for Wilma, the mother of his children, his helpmate in building his life, but Leukemia took her from him much too soon. He learned from that experience that there are no guarantees and not always tomorrows. He married Clara and was devoted to her. They enjoyed traveling through-out the country and to many amazing destinations outside the country. They shared a common interest in sports and attended every Rockets home game and even some away. How many people do you know that have been on the Rockets team plane? They went to most of the Astros games, and Oilers games and even the Texans games when they were awful. They loved their home and the life they shared. He lost Clara to Alzheimer’s a couple of years ago.

And now we say goodbye to Martin or maybe just see ya’ later. He will be missed. He is survived by his children, Chris and Doug McCuen, Priscilla Conoley, Marty DeVries, David DeVries, and Bruce and Linda Johnson; his grandchildren Penny Jones, Shane and Whitney Hill, Destry and Brittani Conoley, Adam Conoley, Skipper Trevathan, Jason and Shereen DeVries, Dustin and Sharon DeVries, Monica Brown, Jimmy Smith, Rodney Randolph, Brian Johnson, Scott Thames and Jacee Thames; his great-grandchildren Justin Jones, Austin Jones, Eric Hill, Annie Hill, Zoe Hill, Colton Conoley, Sawyer Conoley, Tyler DeVries, Avery DeVries, Dillon DeVries, Eric DeVries, Brielle DeVries, Josh and Kayla Smith, Tyler Goebel, Braxton Brown, Skyler Thames, James Smith, Fanci Smith, Carolyn Smith Kellie and Chris Parks, Zachery Randolph and Kayla Randolph, fifteen great-great grandchildren, brother Harry Devries and Sister-in-law Jeanette, numerous nieces and nephews. We cannot leave out his second family that loved him so much: Juan and Icela Reyes and their children Itzel, Nuvia, Ivan and April.

He was predeceased by his sister Lanelle Salisbury, his brother Jack DeVries, daughter Carolyn Randolph and grandson Russell McCuen.

This city is probably full of people that are saying that they meant to get by to see Martin and are so sorry that they didn’t. He would say, “Good! You should be sorry! Now go visit someone else that you’ve been meaning to check on. Life is short and even after 95 years it seems like there was never enough time - so you just have to make it.”

Visitation will be held from 5-8pm, Monday, August 24, 2015 at Pat H. Foley & Company. Funeral services will be held at 10am, Tuesday, August 25, 2015 also at Pat H. Foley & Company. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale, Houston 77023.