E. Leroy Martin

E.LEROY MARTIN Funeral services for lifelong Cortez resident E. LeRoy Martin will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Empire Street Chapel. Interment will follow at Cortez Cemetery. E. LeRoy Martin was born on December 28, 1930 in Cortez, the son of Elmer and Maymie (Wilson) Martin. He passed away on April 26, 2014 in Cortez at the age of 83. LeRoy married the love of his life, Verna Baldwin, on December 16, 1950, in Aztec, N.M. Together, LeRoy and Verna celebrated 63 years of marriage. They are the parents of four children; grandparents of thirteen grandchildren; and great-grandparents of twenty-two. As a young man, LeRoy worked in the Uranium mines above Rico, Colo. In the early 1950's, he was in the US Navy. During most of his career, LeRoy worked in law enforcement. He was a Lieutenant with the Cortez City Police in the early 1960's. He was also a deputy for Sheriff Departments in Yuma and Maricopa Counties, Arizona and San Juan County, Utah. He was Chief of Police for the Ute Mountain Tribe in Towaoc, Colo. After retiring from law enforcement, LeRoy and Verna managed Trading Posts on the Navajo reservation. LeRoy enjoyed raising horses and watching them run at the race tracks. He always loved being outdoors -- camping, hunting, fishing, and exploring on his four-wheeler. He knew every canyon, mesa, and mountain in the 4-corners area. LeRoy was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He and Verna solemnized their marriage March 26, 1996 in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, American Fork, Utah, when they were sealed together for eternity. Surviving LeRoy are his wife, Verna Martin; and children, Cathy (Paul) Magleby of Lindon, Utah, Charles (Wanda) Martin of Cortez, Vicki (David) Reid of Flower Mound, Texas, and Dusty (Kim) Martin of Highland, Utah. LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Maymie Martin; and a brother, Charles Wilber Martin. The family wishes to thank all the health care professionals who helped to care for LeRoy during his final months.