30 Saturday Apr 2016
Posted in cma
Our second stop today was up at Hardtails for the Shield of Faith benefit to help the families devastated by the events of May 17th 2015. We had a good crowd, and the food and entertainment was top notch. This was my second lunch today… Don’t ask. Anyway, it was a great event, and we enjoyed seeing friends.
30 Saturday Apr 2016
Posted in cma
We managed to get to Beck Funeral home before the service started, after my confusion landed us at Cook Walden and their empty parking lot was a big clue that we were at the wrong place.
The service for Claude was very well attended, clearly he had a lot of friends and family. I was asked to speak, and you can read my notes below the photos. The first five photos are from my archives, and the remaining few are from the memorial service today. Faye was able to attend, having secured temporary release from rehab, she was looking good, and I’m sure she will be up and around in a couple of week. Claude, I believe you are in a better place now, but you ARE missed.
Claude wasn’t an out front, in the glittering lights kind of guy. Claude was the behind the scenes rock and foundation. He was always confident that everything would work out right, even when those around him were kind of stressed. As Bobby told me Claude was always kind of above the fray.
Claude was brought up in the Catholic church, and he was an alter boy as a child. When he grew up, married and had children he didn’t push his religious beliefs onto them, trusting instead that they would discover God and faith in their own way and so Claude didn’t talk about his faith. But I believe Claude did have a relationship with God, it was just a private relationship between him and his Maker. Claude believed that everything happens for a reason, trusting that if he did his part, God would do His. Even in his last moments, after the crash, he tried to get up to go check on Faye to try his best to make sure she was all right. Only after they told him she was ok, did he lay back down to let the emergency workers attend to him. He had done his part, and he trusted that God would take care of Faye. God will take care of Faye, and his family.
God took Claude home that day, but he is still with us in the memories we have of him. Claude was a stand-up guy, he could be trusted. He loved his family, and he loved helping children. The toy runs Claude supported will continue, because he did his part, God will do his, and a new worker will rise up to pick up that load.
And finally, I want to ask you a question. Where is your faith? Is your faith in the salvation that Jesus Christ freely offers us, and a life after this with no more pain and no more tears? Mine is, I believe Claude’s was, how about yours?
29 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in cma
Tomorrow morning at 11 am we will be at the memorial service for Claude Martin. All are welcome and it is expected to be a pretty big gathering since Claude was well known in the community for his work on the Austin Toy Run and the Bunny Run. Claude, you will be missed.
Note: After the service, we will be hiding up to the Shield of Faith benefit at Hardtails in Georgetown.
From the Beck Funeral Home web site;
Claude Martin December 6, 1958 – April 19, 2016
Mr. Claude Donald Martin, of Austin, TX, passed away on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at the age of 57.
Claude was born to parents Donald and Pauline (Valliere) Martin on December 6, 1958 in Berlin, New Hampshire. He grew up as the second eldest of five and graduated Berlin High School in 1976. He graduated from Plymouth Technician School in 1978 on a scholarship earned from winning a troubleshooting contest in Chicago. In 1979 Claude enlisted into the United States Air Force sending him to North Dakota and eventually Texas.
Claude married Faye October 16, 2000 in Austin, TX. Claude and Faye were well travelled, visiting every state with the exception of Alaska. They would ride cross country taking multiple road trips in vehicle and on their motorcycle. They were truly inseparable. He dedicated much of his time to charity organizations like, Helping Hand Home for Children, Texas School of the Blind and The Capital Area Food Bank. He also donated his hair bi-annually to Locks of Love. Most notably was his work organizing the Texas Motorcycle Association’s annual Toy Run and Bunny Run.
He loved to cook food, smoke BBQ, and his “famous” chili will always be remembered. In more recent times, Claude and Faye would ride the motorcycle every day the weather was good. Traveling 100 miles in whatever direction they felt. He would say, “They were never lost, they were just in a place they hadn’t been before.”
Claude is survived by his wife Faye Martin; his daughters, Kristy Hannigan and Amanda Parramore; his son in law, Tijaon Parramore; his son, Michael Martin; his daughter in law Victoria Stout; his grandchildren, Caleb Hannigan, Raeley Parramore, Naomi Parramore, Kaden Parramore, and Cian Shannon; his sister, Diane Viger; his brothers, David Martin and Roland Martin; his father, Donald Martin; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother, Pauline (Valliere) Martin; and his sister, Jeanne Savage.
A celebration of his life will be held for the public Saturday, April 30, starting at 11 a.m. at Beck Funeral Home in Pflugerville.
Charitable donations can be made in Claude’s name to Helping Hand Home for Children and The Capital Area Food Bank.
Arrangements under the care of Beck Funeral Home & Cremation Services 512-251-3500
23 Saturday Apr 2016
Posted in cma
We went to the Midway Field House this afternoon for the Spring Meltdown. Fortunately the weather hasn’t quite reached the meltdown stage yet this year so nobody actually melted as far as I know. There was a good turnout, for a good cause. The Meltdown was raising funds for the families effected by the disastrous events of May last year. They had excellent burger plates for lunch, and we were glad they did cause we definitely brought our appetites. There were a bunch of raffle drawings for some pretty nice items, including some hand made hunting knives. We didn’t win, maybe next time. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and I got so pretty good pics. Also, I brought the last of my Moments volume 2 and gave those away. I received several donations, so I guess I better order some more. Oh, and finally you will notice a picture in the set of Michael “Tilt” with a bright red injury on his right arm. Seems he had a running with a pothole this morning in down town Austin and the pothole won. Heal quickly Tilt!
20 Wednesday Apr 2016
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We had the April UCOA meeting this evening at Texas Mist. We had a big group tonight, and we have lots of events coming up. In particular the Spring Meltdown is this Saturday and the Shield of Faith benefit is a week from Saturday. Both of these activities are important as they are raising funds to assist the families that are still struggling after the disastrous events of May 17th last year. Much assistance has been provided, but much more is needed. The flyers are included below the photos of this evening. Oh, and I was blessed to announce my latest book Moments 2 which is a collection of Chaplains moments and photos from 2014 to 2015 and to give away most of the copies I had. If you didn’t get one, ask me when you see me, and fear not I will order more when I get low, which is about now.
Tom Zimmer - PhotoBubba 