Bruce Gilbert Martin

Bruce Gilbert Martin was born to Harold Rodney and Myrtle Stephens Martin on September 8, 1944 in Molino, Oregon. He was the baby of the family, and when he was born his mother and father gave him the name of Bruce Gordon. However his older sisters were supposed to take the birth certificate to the court house and file it for their Mother but in the process they changed his name from Gordon to Gilbert after a movie star they were all goo goo about. He grew up with the love of 4 sisters: Birdie, Edith, Esther and Donna and 1 brother, Norman. He had a happy childhood. He graduated High School in Bellevue, Idaho. He always liked to say that he graduated in the top 10 of his high school class “there were only 11 in the whole class”. In the summer of 1962 he worked for the Forest Service and loved the outdoor work. In 1963 he went to Boise Jr. College for approximately 2 years. In the summer months he worked with his brother, Norman Martin, working as a carpenter and a framer.

He was baptized in June of 1960. He devoted his service to the Lord. He loved the Lord and doing work for the Lord. He had a very great love for God’s people. He was sincere in helping those in need in the Faith. Bruce married the Love of his life Pamela Kay Rayne on June 20, 1965. From that marriage came 2 sons.

The first son, Colin Lee Martin was born on May 30, 1966. Colin was born with no life in his little body and an old sister that lived down the road got the word and headed to their house and took the little boy in her arms and prayed to our God to bless and give the breath of life and the Lord granted great mercy and gave Colin the breath of life. They were very joyous in what God had given. Three years later another son Dennis Ward Martin was born on August 17, 1969. Their arms were full with the joy God had blessed them with. They spent time serving the Lord and in time he was lead to Tulare, California where he went to work helping build dairy barns. They spent many good years traveling back to Idaho for Christmas with family and friends.

They lived in many various places of California, Oregon and Washington in the next 30 years. They assembled faithfully with the Brethren in each of the places God lead them to.

Bruce lost Pamela Kay Martin on November 10, 1996. He busied himself in work and continued to assemble as he knew and remained steadfast in the Lord trying to stay strong in the sorrow that had come his way.

Three years and 4 months later he was blessed to marry once more to another great love. He married Rama Carol Howard on March 18, 2000. They began their life together in Snohomish, Washington. They lived there for 2 years and in March of 2002 they sold the house and bought an older 26 foot camp trailer and put everything in storage and set out on a new journey together. Leaning on the Lord on a direction of where to go, they traveled down to Brownsville, Oregon. There Bruce was hired on to manage the Brownsville City Park. For 11 months they lived in their camp trailer on a camp site at the park. He and Rama worked there together painting the playground equipment making it fun colors for the kids to play on and keeping the ball field ready for all the kids ball games. In March of 2003 they sold the camp trailer and moved to Montrose, Colorado where he became a mobile home park manager to 4 mobile home parks. Although they lived in Montrose the Lord had him make the Delta Church of the Firstborn their home assembly. He assembled at Delta longer than anywhere he had lived. In 2013 he retired and they moved to Delta, Colorado and continued to assemble in the church they had made their home assembly. They had lots of company and always enjoyed all the visits. Their home was often filled with young people that came for the hayride that occurred in July every year. He always looked forward to the grandchildren coming to stay and visit.

Bruce loved to read. He would read all sorts of books but he had a real passion for the history books. He loved the history of the happenings of times past in the world. In all of his reading, he didn’t miss a day reading some in God’s word. Bruce will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by: his parents Harold and Myrtle Martin, his first wife Pamela Kay Martin, a daughter in law Trina Martin, a son Dennis Ward Martin, a grandson Canaan River Martin, sisters: Donna Jensen, Edith Gooding, and Esther Ward, his father in law Ray Howard, a father in law Tommy Rayne, a brother in law Steve Rayne, a sister in law Annette Hart, a niece Alissa Blake, and a nephew Troy Young.

He leaves to mourn: his wife Rama Martin of the home in Delta, Colorado, a son Colin Lee Martin and wife Teresa of Cushing, Oklahoma, a sister Birdie Hurst of Boulder City, Nevada, daughter Petra Nation and husband Tylor of Brewster, Washington, a mother in law Carrol Howard of Olathe, Colorado, a mother in law Bobbi Rayne Caddy and husband Charlie of Caldwell, Idaho, a sister in law MaLinda Roy and husband Rob of Newcastle, Oklahoma, a sister in law Leila Blake of Olathe, Colorado, 2 brother in laws Steve and Brad Howard of Olathe, Colorado, a sister in law Sherry Young and husband Terry of Middleton, Idaho and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and many good friends and family.