Jerry G. Martin

Jerry George Martin, age 83, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, July 7th, 2021, in Livingston, Montana, from a long battle with COPD. From the time he was born January 12, 1938, in Billings, Montana, to his death, he was surrounded by people that loved and respected him. His father was George Martin, a farmer in Shields Valley. His mother, Lilly Sevick, was a country school teacher at Rock Creek and Grannis. Jerry attended Grannis and Park High school in Livingston Montana. He graduated in 1955. He started college in Dillon, Montana, and attended one year, before he enlisted in the army as a Specialist 5th Class from February 21, 1956 to February 13, 1959. He was stationed overseas in Munich, Germany, where he assisted in setting up the first Nike Ajax Missile Base. After being discharged from the service, he went to Denver, Colorado, and worked for Gunnerson Sound System, building communication system. After one and a half years, he returned to Livingston to the family farm. His sister, Alice, set him up on a blind date with her best friend, Regina Nead. It was love at first sight. They married seven months later on September 23, 1961. A year later they decided to move to California with their nine month old daughter, Linda, in search of work and to pursue his education as an electronic engineer. After a short time in Monrovia, Jerry landed a job with TRW. They assisted him with advancing his education which led him to attend West Coast University and UCLA College. He obtained his BSEE from West Coast University. He worked numerous classified projects, as well as building satellites, including the TDRS. He was also an assistant program manager on the communications of the space shuttle. He had a passion for outer space and beyond. Jerry was active with playing sports for TRW's leagues, including bowling, basketball and slow pitch softball, all of which his family had fun cheering from the sidelines, until he retired in 1993. Jerry was a loving husband and dedicated father who always made his family top priority. He was an adventurous man that enjoyed taking his family on outings and camping trips. Dirt bike riding, motorcycling, snow skiing and fishing were just a few of their excursions. He enjoyed traveling lakes and the sea in the family boat, "Bouncing Boobies," as well as water skiing. He relished exploring new places and the unknown. He taught his three children to be worldly and self-sufficient. They spent many hours in the garage tinkering and fix things. They had so many fond memories. If they were to write them all down they would have a novel. In 1993, Jerry returned to Livingston to build his dream home on "Bare Your Ass Ranch," with the help of his son, Rory, and brother-in-law, Claud Nead. Jerry and his wife had a passion for horses. They adopted wild horses from the Bureau of Land Management, as well as purchasing and raiseing many while living there. They were active in Treasure Lane bowling leagues. He won city, state and was able to go to nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lilly, and a brother, Earl. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Regina Mae (Nead) Martin; daughters, Linda Kay Martin and Diana Jean Mitchell; son, Rory George Balford Martin; brother, Roy Martin; sister, Alice Walden; and 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. A service in Jerry's honor will be held Thursday, September 23, 2021, at 11:00 AM, at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 327 S. 12th Street, Livingston, with Pastor Paul Stern officiating. A reception will follow in the church basement. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.