A. Jay Martin
A. Jay Martin, 73, of Mason City died Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit after a long battle with esophageal cancer. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, August 20 at Major Erickson Funeral Home in Mason City, with Pastor Art Zewert, Chaplain - Hospice of North Iowa officiating. Gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior.
A. Jay was born January 20, 1944 to Wayne and Eva Martin. He attended Clear Lake Schools. May 25, 1968, he married Sharon Beardmore. Less than a month after their first date they were married and almost made 50 years. They had three children, Tracy, Kellie and Corey.
A. Jay worked at the Ford garage in Waterloo as a diesel truck mechanic for many years. In 1981, the dealership announced Monday they would close Friday. That is when he decided to move his family to Mason City and farm with his dad. He loved farming and was proud to own the farm in 2004. Corey and his son, Adam, have done the farming for the last couple years. A.Jay enjoyed working with the boys, although sometimes it’s hard to convince an old farmer new ideas might work.
He enjoyed hunting and good stories about deer hunting. He loved his 1938 Graham Bradley Tractor and fast cars (the faster the better). Most of all, he loved having his kids, grandkids and anybody else come to the farm; always a good time.
A. Jay was a generous man, always ready to help anyone, anytime with anything. He could fix anything. He loved to take goodies to the neighbors at Christmas and always treated the guys at the Manly Elevator during harvest. In 1990, he donated a kidney to his mother-in-law. Needless to say, he became her favorite son-in-law.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon; his children, Tracy (Steve) Kelly, Kellie Buland (Doug Burton) and Corey (Jennifer) Martin; his grandchildren, Chris and Cody Menting, Collin, Coy and Adriana Kelly, Adam and Bailey Martin, and Hiroko Haltori Holand; one brother, Perry (Kim) Martin; three sisters-in-law: Yvonne Westphal, Audrey Angel and Alyce Klocke; a brother-in-law and good friend, Merlyn Klocke; his faithful companions, Pal and Buddy, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A. Jay was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gary Martin; his sister, Gay Eckhardt; two nephews, Don Grotegut and Brandon Martin; his father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Myrtle Beardmore; his brothers-in-law, Calvin Westphal, Ralph Grotegut and Don Angel; many aunts, uncles, cousins; and his best buddy, Jerry Wendel.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.
