MATLOCK, MARTIN HALE, LONG TIME RESIDENT OF CHAMPION, PASSED AWAY AT VULCAN GENERAL HOSPITAL ON OCTOBER 14, 1992 AT THE AGE OF 81 YEARS.
MARTIN WAS BORN AT PULLMAN, WASHINGTON ON APRIL 15, 1911. HE CAME WITH HIS PARENTS TO THE CHAMPION AREA IN 1912 AND GREW UP ON THE FARM, WORKING AT HOME AND FOR NEIGHBOURS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IN 1941, HE WENT INTO THE SERVICE STATION BUSINESS IN CHAMPION WHICH HE OPERATED SUCCESSFULLY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN ABOUT 1980. HE MARRIED MARION TINDALL IN MARCH OF 1942.
MARTIN WAS VERY COMMUNITY MINDED AND SERVED IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING MAYOR, VILLAGE COUNCIL, FIRE CHIEF, PRESIDENT OF THE LIONS CLUB, PRESIDENT OF THE CURLING CLUB, CHAIRMAN OF THE SKATING RINK BOARD, PRESIDENT OF THE CLEVERVILLE PIONEER CLUB AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOY SCOUT GROUP COMMITTEE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE SENIORS CLUB AND MARTIN SPENT MANY HOURS HELPING DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTRE AND ALSO SERVED TERMS AS THE TREASURER AND PRESIDENT.
MARTIN WAS A KEEN SPORTS FAN AND SPENT MANY HOURS UMPIRING AND ANNOUNCING BALL GAMES AND ATTENDED NUMEROUS BASEBALL AND HOCKEY GAMES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN ALBERTA. AS AN AVID CURLER, MARTIN SPENT MANY HOURS AT THE LOCAL CURLING RINK. HE WAS MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR MANY YEARS AT THE IRISH AND CLEVERVILLE CONCERTS. MARTIN LOVED TO DANCE AND CALLED MANY SQUARE DANCES. HE ENJOYED THE OUTDOORS AND WAS AN AVID BIRD HUNTER. MARTIN’S AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR EDUCATION LED HIM TO SPONSOR THE MATH AWARD AT THE CHAMPION SCHOOL.
MARTIN WILL BE SADLY AND DEEPLY MISSED BY HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY, ALL HE LOVED DEARLY.
BELOVED HUSBAND OF MRS. MARION MATLOCK OF CHAMPION, AB, TWO SONS PAUL (FAY) OF CHAMPION AND DAVID OF FORT MCLEOD, A DAUGHTER ESTHER (WAYNE) NESBITT, THREE GRANDCHILDREN – DAVID NESBITT, PAIGE AND ADAM MATLOCK.
MARTIN WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS PARENTS MANLEY AND JANE, FIVE BROTHERS, A SISTER, AN INFANT SON AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.
FUNERAL SERVICE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1992 AT 1:30 PM AT CHAMPION UNITED CHURCH WITH FRANK JOHNSON, L.M. OFFICIATING. INTERMENT CHAMPION CEMETERY.
HONORARY PALLBEARERS WERE JOHN ROEBUCK, PHIL FATH, ROBERT FATH, CHUCK KRASMAN, BOB BURTON AND WILBUR MATLOCK.
ACTIVE PALLBEARERS WERE DALE GROVES, KEITH GROVES, JACK ROEBUCK, ALAN BUCHAN, JACK LELOND AND LES KRASMAN.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, IF FRIENDS SO DESIRE, DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO EITHER STARS, 1441 – AVIATION PARK SE, CALGARY, AB T2E 8M7 OR ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION, 1331 – 29 ST. NW, CALGARY, AB T2N 9Z9.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME, 403-485-2633.