PHILLIPS COUNTY
Colorado
JAY ALVIN MARTIN
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, CO, June 3, 1999
Jay Alvin Martin of Holyoke passed away May 26, 1999 in Denver at the age of 80. Jay was born on August 26, 1918 in Holyoke to Frank and Ursula Miller Martin. Jay grew up southeast of Holyoke at the Martin homestead. He attended school in the Pleasant Valley Community. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Holyoke.
He was married in 1937 to Lorna Groshans and to this union four children were born, Naomi Jenkins, Jim Martin, Mary Fulscher and Carmen Holloway. He was married to Catherine Bierbach in 1957 and to this union was born one daughter, Tammy Berbee.
Jay resided in Denver where he worked for Safeway as a driver and dispatcher. He retired after 28 years of service. He returned to the Holyoke area in 1983 and lived west of Amherst. In 1990 he was elected to the position of County Commissioner of Phillips County and served until he suffered a stroke in 1991. In 1995 Jay and Kay moved to Holyoke where he resided until his death.
Jay was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Amherst. His favorite past times were playing baseball in his younger years. In his later years he enjoyed many visits to the bakery with his best friend Dale where he enjoyed the company of many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Nola Poe; brothers Eugene Kent and Alva Martin; son Timothy Martin; and sons-in-law Gary Fulscher and Harold Jenkins.
Survivors include wife Kay Martin of Holyoke; daughters Naomi Jenkins of Julesburg, Mary Fulscher of Amherst, Carmen and husband Ed of Greeley, and Tammy and husband Jim Berbee of Denver; son Jim and wife Shirley of Longmont; sisters Laura Smith of Orlando, FL, Merle Peterson of Halton, ND, LaDonna Wernet and husband Boyce of Holyoke; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.
Funeral services for Jay Alvin Martin were held Saturday, May 29 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Amherst. Burial followed in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
CATHERINE "KAY" (BIERBACH) MARTIN
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, April 22, 2004
Catherine "Kay" Martin, 66, of Holyoke died Thursday, April 15, 2004 in Greeley. She was born April 14, 1938 in Omaha, Nebraska to Harold A. and Irene Opal (Read) Bierbach. She married Jay A. Martin on September 3, 1957. They moved to Denver in 1963 where Jay worked for Safeway. On Jay's retirement, they moved west of Amherst and later to Holyoke.
In 1988 Kay earned her GED and in 1999 she finished Jay's term as county commissioner. She enjoyed crocheting, doing crossword puzzles, baking and needlework. Kay was a dedicated and loving caregiver.
Kay was preceded in death by her mother Irene, husband Jay and infant son Timothy. She is survived by her daughter Tammy Berbee and husband Jim of Arvada and Barbara Rapp of Lusk, Wyoming; step-daughters Naomi Jenkins of Julesburg, Mary Fulscher of Amherst, Carmen Holloway and husband Ed of Greeley; step-son Jim Martin and wife Shirley of Longmont; sister Phyllis Turner of Roachdale, Indiana; and brother Harold Bierbach of Holyoke. Grandchildren include Deanna Wegman and husband John, Tonia Elliott, Shawn Martin, Jimmie Jo Ribson, Shannon Martin, Stacy Fulscher, Jodi Howitt and husband Lance, Scott Holloway and wife Erica, Erin Burke and husband Bob, Megan Hunter and husband Matt, Lindsey Berbee, Brandon Rapp, Bailey Rapp and Ryan Rapp.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 19 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Amherst. Interment was in Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
CHARITY BELLE (FUNKHOUSER) MARTIN
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, CO, 14 Sep 1950
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Funeral services were held at the Holyoke Methodist Church on September 11, for Charity Belle Martin, who passed away on Saturday, September 9, at the age of 94 years, one month and six days.
Charity Belle Funkhouser was born at Aconia, Iowa, August 3, 1856. There she grew to womanhood and at the age of 17 she married Robert Martin. One son, Joe, was born in Iowa. In 1875 they came to Colorado and homesteaded 10 miles east of Holyoke. Eight children were born to them during those pioneer days. One son, Roy, who has lived on the home place, is the only child living and Mrs. Martin had made her home with him since the death of her husband in April, 1925.
During the thirtieth year of her life she became a member of the United Brethren Church which she attended regularly as long as her health permitted. She was known as Grandma Martin to old and young alike, throughout many years and her kind and helpful ways will be remembered by many friends and relatives.
Out of town relatives attending the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Martin of Greeley, Colorado; Mr. and Mrs. Alive Martin of Oxford, Nebraska. Many relatives, mostly grandchildren and great grandchildren and a host of friends are left to mourn her loss.
Funeral services were in charge of the Lewis Funeral Home of Holyoke. She was laid to rest in the State Line cemetery near those of her family, who preceded her in death.
Pallbearers were Wayne Martin, Lester Martin, Jay Martin, Everette Jaycox, Milton Martin and Glenn Martin.
FRANK BONEN MARTIN
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, March 15, 1945
Frank Bonen Martin, the son of Robert F. Martin and Charity Isabelle (Funkhouser) Martin was born October 27th, 1882, near Little Rock, Arkansas, and came to Holyoke at the age of four years.
He departed this life March 7, 1945 at Holyoke, Colorado, at the age of 63 years, four months and eight days.
He spent most of his life in the Holyoke community, where he homesteaded soon after his marriage, fifteen miles southeast of Holyoke. He was united in marriage to Ursula Maude Miller in August 1907, and to this union were born seven children, two of whom died in infancy. His wife Maude passed away in December 1921. In 1927 he was married to Leatta Rose (Mundell) Kent, and to this union was born one daughter. He was a member of the United Brethren in Christ Church of the State Line. It has been said of him that he was a good father and husband as well as a good neighbor.
Left to mourn his loss are his beloved wife, Leatta, four daughters, Mrs. Merl Peterson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Mrs. Nola Poe of Holyoke, Colorado, Mrs. Laura Smith of Springfield, Ohio and LaDonna of the home. Also two sons, Jay of Holyoke, Colorado and Pfc. Alva, in the southwest Pacific, and a stepson, Pfc. Gerald E. Kent of Camp Ross, California. These, as well as his aged mother, Mrs. Robert Martin and two brothers, Roy and Harry of Holyoke.
His father and three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death, as well as the two children who passed away in infancy. He also leaves fourteen grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Interment was at the State Line Cemetery.
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Last updated December 2018