Ernest “Sam” Martin passed away April 12, 2022.

Ernest “Sam” Martin of Dorena, 86, died April 12th 2022. He was born February 7th 1936 in Caney Oklahoma to Ernest Martin and Ella “Holland” Martin. He was the youngest of five. Albert “Tanner” Martin, Rufus “Bill” Martin, Edna (Looper,Crocker) Martin, Dorthy “Dot”(Maddox) Martin. He was saved and became a Christian in 1948. He married the love of his life Violet Louise (Eastburn) Martin June 18th 1954. They moved from Cottage Grove Oregon after the birth of their first son Samuel Robert Martin. Sam worked as a millworker in Hoopa California, until he started driving truck and they had their four other children. Jimmy Ray Martin, Sheryl Louise (Martin) Shumway, Brenda Gail (Martin) Speas and Ernest Lee Martin. He has owned and operated multiple of his own trucking businesses over his life. E&S Martin Trucking with his 3 sons and a long haul truck driver across 48 states for Schneider being the longest. Sam was a man of GOD, a family man, a man of his church. He loved to cook and garden, hunt and travel, old cars and lawn mowers. After the passing of his wife in 2003, he married Susan (Marion) Martin in 2006. They enjoyed their sweet dogs and their beautiful garden for many years up river, until her passing in 2019. Sam is survived by three of his five children Sheryl, Brenda and Ernie, his 10 grandchildren Echo (Speas) Zeretzke, W. Ky Speas, April Shumway, Lacey Shumway, Kimberly (Martin) Crivello, Amanda Martin, Keenan Martin, Dustin Martin, Jordan Martin and Destiny Martin. And 10 great grandchildren Treven, Caz, Vance, Boone, Rowan, Kayson, Lena, Bryce, Skylei and Samuel. He was the center of his family and pillar of his community always giving and helping anyone in need. He has been the co-pastor with Roy Young of the Good Samaritan Church in Dorena Oregon for over 10 years. He will be greatly missed by his family friends and church. A funeral was be held at the Row River Good Samaritan Church Monday, April 18^th, 2022 at 11:00 PM. Interment was at Sears Cemetery in Cottage Grove. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel and Crematorium.