Charles Elgy Martin

Charles Elgy Martin, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and colleague died peacefully on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Born March 17, 1926 in Hamilton, North Dakota to Glen A. Martin and Anna Belle C. Martin, he was the youngest of three sons and was preceded in death by his parents, his son Sasha M. Martin and brothers JB Martin and Ray Martin. Charles is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Cindy Y. Martin, sons Tracey W. Martin and Ian G. C. Martin. Grandchildren Christopher M. Martin, Jason S. Martin and Makai I. Martin. Charles grew up in Hamilton, ND and eventually moved to East St. Louis, Missouri where he graduated high school. He worked for the Louisiana State Highway Department as an Instrument Man and contributed to the completion of the Lake Charles Bridge in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Charles served honorably in the U.S. Navy from November 4, 1950 to September 3, 1954 as a Weather Observer and is a Korean War Veteran. While stationed in Hawaii, Charles attended the University of Hawaii and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Later, he moved to Boston to attend Harvard University where he received his MBA, graduating number two in his class. The lure of the beautiful islands of Hawaii took him back to Honolulu where he worked in the commercial Real Estate market. To be closer to relatives on the “mainland”, he moved his family to Houston in 1977. He joined the commercial Real Estate team of Brown and Root and retired in 2005. Always wanting to keep busy, Charles continued to work as a Licensed Realtor in the State of Texas and held the prestigious Accredited Buyer’s Representative “ABR” designation. Charles had a great love and interest in all wildlife. He would spend hours observing the many species of birds at the back yard bird feeders, particularly in Arkansas at the family’s lake house as well as in Houston. In Houston, Charles greatly enjoyed watching the Hummingbirds from his bed and would soulfully announce “Hummingbird!” each time one arrived to feed. With his fondness for birds, his house pet named Graybird, was a beautiful Cockatiel bird which he loved and the bird loved him in return. Unfortunately and coincidentally, Graybird unexplainably died the same night Charles passed away. Is there a sixth sense and could they have gone together? If you knew Charles, you know about his passion for Dixieland Jazz. He had the largest record collection of this genre in Hawaii and hosted a weekly Dixieland Jazz radio show where he was known as “Dr. Jazz”. He was a published author in The Mississippi Rag publication many times over, and enjoyed listening to his favorite musical numbers with friends and family. With a smile larger than life, he would listen intently to each instrument and say “Isn’t that nice”? He will also be remembered for his hand written notes often accompanied by a newspaper clipping or article. Charles was so well read, he wanted to pay it forward by sharing nuggets of knowledge wherever and whenever he could. Charles is remembered by all for his kind, positive, caring, soft spoken, giving, encouraging, trusting, sincere, family oriented, supportive, and most of all, loving nature. A loving Husband, a loving Father, and a loving Friend. A private Memorial Service will be held to remember and celebrate the life of our beloved Charles Elgy Martin. Gone but not forgotten. Rest in peace loving Husband, Father and Friend. Sleep with the Angels until we meet again!

Charles Elgy Martin

March 17, 1926 - September 17, 2013