Aug. 24, 1939-July 10, 2005

Word has been received of the death of former Hermiston resident and Simplot employee Barbara Lee Martin, 65, of Astoria, on Sunday, July 10, 2005, in Alaska while visiting her son and his family.

At her request a celebration of life picnic was held at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Taunya Martin, on Saturday, July 16. In a final letter to her family she said she had had, “a life well lived and (she was) on to bigger and better things now.”

She was born Aug. 24, 1939, at Mead, Wash., to Conrad Archie and June Allison Bass. The family later moved to California, where she was married to Howard M. Martin for over 14 years.

While her children were growing up she volunteered as a Camp Fire Girls leader, assisted with her son’s Boy Scout troop and was involved in Junior Bowling of America.

She enjoyed reading, tole painting, viewing wildlife, bowling, playing cards and games, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to drink Pepsi and play Yahtzee. She looked forward to vacationing in Alaska every summer, where she loved watching the eagles soar, and the moose roam, then on her return home, she attended the Clatsop County Fair where her grandchildren showed livestock.

Mrs. Martin worked at 4 Corners Market while attending high school in Castle Rock, Wash. From 1973-1976 she worked at Cloverdale Bowl, The Mustard Seed Restaurant and Shop N Save Supermarket. She then moved to Arcata, Calif., working at the Samoa Cookhouse Gift shop.

In 1981, she moved to Hermiston, and went to work for the J.R. Simplot Company. She retired from Simplot in 1996 as a machine operator. After retirement she moved to Salem, later she moved to Medford and then to Astoria.

Survivors include her children, daughter, Wanda Blaylock and her children, Wade and Jared of Keizer, son, Howard Martin, his wife, Taunya, and their children, Charles and Alicia of Astoria, and son, Terry Martin, his wife, Tina, and their children Joey, Julia, Jenna, and Jake, of Anchor Point, Alaska; by her brother, Pete Bass; by sisters, Dixie Pickell, Donna Strickler, Geri Newman and Jeannie Croucher, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Archie and June Bass, sister, Darlene Frint, and brother, Richard Bass.