Dorothy Martin

Dorothy Irene Martin passed away December 15th, 2025. She was born in Spokane, Wash. November 7th 1926 to William Gearhart and Nellie Irene (Hale) Gearhart, and grew up in Millwood Wash., where she graduated from West Valley High School.

Dorothy met Clarence Franklin Martin in 1943 through her aunt which was a long-time friend of Clarance’s parents. Clarence was in the Navy stationed at Farragut ID. When he was discharged in 1945, they got married. Clarence hired on with the Milwaukee Railroad on the signal crew and they started their marriage in Mobridge S.D.

From 1945 to 1948 Dorothy was a housewife, she took in laundry, ironing, and mending of clothes. In April of 1948 their daughter Linda was born in Baker Mt.

The family moved to Miles City, Mt. where she was a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher at the First Christian Church, and very active in PTA. She sewed all Clarence’s shirts, and Linda’s clothes.

In 1958 the family moved to Deer Lodge Mt. where she took up Ceramics, making dishes Knick knacks as gifts for the family. Again, she taught Sunday School at the First Christian Church.

In 1963 the family moved to Tum Tum, Wash. She became a 4-H leader and took two kids to the Stevens County Fair with their projects.

In 1968 Clarence and Dorothy moved to Bremerton. Here Dorothy enrolled at Bates Business College. Upon completing her course, she worked for the United Good Neighbor and later worked as a receptionist in a doctor’s office. From 1969 to 1985 she worked in the County Extension office as a Washington State University coordinator for Master Gardener. She stayed in the program and worked the vegetable department for Master Gardener display until 2001 at the Kitsap County Fair.

She belonged to Eastside Garden Club, Manette Neighborhood Assn., Kitsap Audubon, Order of Eastern Star, and was Mother Advisor for the Manette Rainbow. Dorothy did volunteer work for the US Forest Dept. monitoring the Spotted Owl, Marble Murrelet, Harlequin Duck. She also inventoried wild flowers and serving on timber sale teams that surveyed the land and its effects on the wildlife habitats and water quality.

From 1975 to 1983 she was her grandson’s daycare. She chaperoned school trips, attended school functions, and spoiled them with milk, cookies, and love.

Preceded in death by her husband of 59 years Clarence F. Martin, her brother Harold Gearhart, and Grandson Adam Brent Davidson.

Survived by her Daughter Linda Combs and Son-in-law Kelly Combs, Grandson Martin Davidson, Great Grandson Cory Davidson, and Cameron Davidson

Memorial to be March 8th 2026, 1 PM to 3 PM at the Hood Canal Lodge #288 Masonic Temple,

23341 Northeast State Route 3, Belfair, Washington 98528

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in Dorothy’s memory to: American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Association, or the Heart Association.