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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Our View: Protect pristine headwaters from nickel mining ... Bumper crop ... Growers and Crafters Market searching for new homes ... Helen Martin MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 24, 2015 @ 2:00 am Posted Sep. 24, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Helen Martin July 4, 1935 - September 14, 2015 Helen Maude (Robertson) Martin, 80, passed away September 14, 2015 in her Medford home surrounded by her loving husband and family. Helen was born in her family home in Chiloquin, Ore., the sixth of eight children. Her father, Ragnwald Robertson, an immigrant from Norway, was a millwright at sawmills throughout Oregon and California. Her mother, Pearl (Pinion) Robertson was a cook at the sawmill in Algoma, Ore. when the couple met. The family moved to Ashland, Ore. when Helen was in the fourth grade. The family moved to Prospect, Ore. when she was in eighth grade. Helen was highly involved in school activities and editor of the school yearbook. She graduated with honors from Prospect High School in 1953. Following high school, Helen moved to Seattle where she lived with her sister Betty and worked at a bank for a year. She moved to Medford where she met the love of her life, Harvey Layne Martin in the summer of 1954. Helen joined him at college in Abilene, Texas in the fall of 1955 where they married on October 6, 1955. After graduation Harvey entered the United States Army, where he served as a medical corpsman and company clerk. While stationed at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, sons Gene (1957) and Jeff (1958) were born. Following their time of service, Harvey and Helen returned to Oregon, where Harvey worked with his parents at H.O. Martin Insurance. In 1962, daughter Bonnie came along to compete the family. Once the kids were in school, Helen worked as a teacher’s assistant at Lone Pine Elementary School. After realizing her passion for teaching, she completed her education at Southern Oregon College (now Southern Oregon University) and completed her bachelor’s degree in Education, with honors in 1972. After completing a year-long internship at the Elk-Trail elementary school, she took a full-time position teaching at Little Butte Elementary School in the Eagle Point School District where she worked until her retirement in 1996. While at Little Butte she taught third to fourth grades, with several years spent teaching a combined fourth to sixth Able and Gifted class. She completed her masters degree in 1980. For several summers, Helen worked for the Medford Parks and Recreation Department, supervising a summer day program at Bear Creek Park. In addition, she helped with the department’s All-Comers Track meets. Helen loved music and played piano, often accompanying school plays and programs and also partici-pated in the Jacksonville Melodrama for one summer. In addition Helen painted and did calligraphy. In retirement, Helen loved to travel, with favorite spots including the Oregon coast and Crater Lake. Helen was always involved with her church family, West Main Church of Christ. At different times over the years she taught Sunday School classes, coordinated Sunday School teachers, was involved in ladies groups, and was the cook for the initial West Main Summer church camp. In 2003, Helen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Throughout her long decline she maintained a gentle spirit and a loving attitude, delighting in simple pleasures: young children, birds on a wire, leaves on a tree, and the American flag. She was preceded in death by her father, Ragnwald Robertson; mother, Pearl Robertson; brother, Bill Robertson; and sister, Beverly Inacker. She is survived by her husband, Harvey Martin; sons, Gene Martin (Karlene) and Jeff Martin (Connie); daughter, Bonnie Huard (Paul); brother, Don Robertson (Pauleta); sisters, Betty Ovren, Maryanne Lilly (Robert), Dora Wisely (David); and sister-in-law, Mary Brooks. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Billi McKee, Michael Martin, Jesse Martin, Cornelius Martin (Whitney), Caleb Martin (Louisa), Caitlyn Martin, Matthew Wellington (Lauren-Bacall) and Jeremy Huard (Emily). Her great-grandchildren include Samara Witt, Austin Martin, Jaila Snowden, Carmen Wellington, as well as her great-great-grandson, Huston Witt. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, at West Main Church of Christ, 1701 West Main Street, Medford, Oregon. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 24, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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