Fred J Martin

In the early hours of Sunday, February 14th, 2021 Freddie John Martin died at Salem Hospital with his wife holding his hand. A freak ice storm precluded his family from getting texts and cell phone calls to alert them of his sudden downturn.

The oldest of five boys, Freddie was born in Aurora, Illinois on September 18, 1942 to Ralph M. Martin and Mary E. Martin (McDonnel). At sixteen, after inexpertly altering his birth certificate, Freddie joined the Marine Corp and left Illinois behind. He was stationed in Southern California, where he met and married Judy Crews. Together they had two children, Deborah Niedziela (Les) and Nathan Martin (Patricia). After leaving the Marine Corps in 1961, Fred took his first job in sales. His knack for the art of selling and his natural talent and personality were skills and traits he used in several business ventures in Southern California and Oregon. Fred and his family moved to Salem, Oregon in 1970 and in the mid-70's he started Fred Martin Co., a home remodeling and insulation venture. Maybe you saw the white trucks with his name in big, blue letters.

On March 24, 1984, two years after meeting her on a blind date, Fred married Elaine C. Tanner of Seaside, Oregon. He was an hour and a half late to that wedding, missed the pre-wedding photos and nearly caused heart attacks for both his future in-laws. In typical Fred style, he had gone out to breakfast at the Pancake House, put up lawn signs for a candidate for District Attorney, and gone to the Courthouse Fitness Center to work out. But Elaine never doubted that she was special to him, even though he was late, as that night, for the first time in the two years she had known him, he did not stop at a 7-11 to buy the Saturday night edition of the Sunday Oregonian to read in bed. Many more loving surprises were to come from this smart, funny man who made his wife burst into laughter a least once a day.

A loyal, loving, ever helpful friend, he was an irrepressibly social man making his years spent as a Real Estate Agent and Broker among his happiest. He met many new friends, to supplement the ones he made working on numerous non-partisan political campaigns and other ventures. He loved meeting with friends, acquaintances, or strangers (especially if those strangers had babies to play with) for breakfast, coffee, lunch, coffee, dinner or coffee. He also loved his wife Elaine, his children and family, and his Schnauzers -not always in that order. His feelings for the Devil Tots (his name for twin Wheaten Terriers) were more mixed. Finally, but foremost, he fiercely, totally, and completely adored his grandchildren, David Martin and Samantha Martin.

Fred is survived by his two youngest brothers, Ricky Martin and Tony Martin, his wife Elaine, his children Debbie Niedziela and Nathan Martin, and his two grandchildren David Martin and Samantha Martin, family, innumerable friends, and one "Devil Tot" Wheaten, Dexter.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hed-fh.com for the Martin family.