Charles Richard Martin

Charles is survived by his nine children with his first wife, Christine Thompson: Clayton Lynn Martin (Melisa), Colleen Nordgren (Weston), Cathryn Jones (Chris), Craig Andrew Martin (Lisa), Christy Bryce (Ladd), Charlene Larson (Andrew), Cindylou Richardson (Branden), Conley Richard Martin (Miriam), and Chad Lincoln Martin (Jessica); three stepchildren with his third wife Lana C. Chapman: Brenda L. Kern, Stacey L. Andress (Nicholas), and J. Nicholas Malecky; as well as 68 grandchildren and their spouses, 31 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Martin and Abby Viola Haymore; brother, Wayne Delbert Martin, and his wife Betty Jean Chapman; brother John Henry Martin; brother, Kenneth Rae Martin, and his wife, Josephine Ann (JoAnn) Freestone; sister, Elaine Martin Quigley, and her husband, Joseph Bert Quigley; son-in-law Edward Evans; grandson Nathan Thomas Martin; and great-grandson William Burleson Miller.

Charles was born on May 5, 1941, in Mesa, Arizona. He was the baby of the family and always young at heart. He graduated from Mesa High School in 1959 and worked with his father and brother in their family business, Martin Hay Specialists.

Charles owned several businesses over the years, working primarily in the agricultural industry as a self-taught Agronomist and Crop Advisor throughout the southwest.

Charles was always the champion of the underdog. If there was a hitchhiker on the side of the road, he would pick them up, even if he was on a motorcycle. He had a soft spot for panhandlers and people on the side of the road needing gas. He had a very generous nature. When his daughter Cathryn’s husband was dying, he helped pay her rent for months. There are many people that were blessed by his generosity.

Charles was adventurous by nature. If there was a large man toy with a motor on it, he tried it; from hang gliders to speed boats. He was, whole heartedly, an adrenaline junkie and not even a near fatal accident could permanently slow him down.

Charles was also industrious and had a sense of humor. When he and his son were laid up after a terrible automobile accident, he used PVC pipe to make blow darts. They became very good at hitting targets. Later a neighborhood dog got in his backyard and frightened his children, so he shot the dog with a dart. It didn’t take long for his neighbor to knock on the door and while shaking the dart in Charles’ face, asked, “Is this yours?” He grabbed that dart out of the man’s hand and said “Yes! Thanks for returning it! Keep your dog out of my backyard!” and slammed the door in his face.

Charles had a dream of turning golf courses into farming land in case of a food shortage. He tried to sell to golf course owners on many occasions.

Charles loved Jesus. Even after he left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he would preach the gospel of Christ. He was regularly asked to speak in other churches. He always taught from the Book of Mormon, and always spoke about Jesus Christ. At the end of his life, he was ministering to people in his nursing home about Jesus. After about a year, his daughter, Cathy, reached out to his local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints bishop and asked him to visit her dad. His bishop invited Charles to church. After a year, he was re-baptized back into the church. He had a strong testimony of his Savior, and he gave a beautiful testimony to his children and his grandchildren at his baptism.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, July 11th at 9:00 am at the RestHaven Park cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.