Peter 'PJ' John Grant Martin

It is with great sadness that Peter John Grant Martin (PJ) passed away on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

He leaves behind Terry Lyn Martin (wife), Brett Martin (son), Mason Martin (grandson), Terry Lee (David) Dodd (daughter), Robin Martin (son) and Oscar and Nick (grandsons).

PJ was an avid horseman in his younger years, he was raised by his paternal grandparents after WWII.

He served in the Canadian Navy and spent 25 years at Pacific Western Airlines, now Air Canada.

PJ was born in Litchfield, UK, and sailed to Canada with his mother in 1944 on the Iles de France during WWII.  He was raised by his paternal grandparents, who believed in Christian Scientists' religion in Vancouver, Whiterock, 100 Mile House, and La Lache, British Columbia.  He worked from the age of 12 setting pins in a bowling alley after school and a caddy at the private golf course Oakdale on the weekends.  His grandfather died when he was 12 and his grandmother went blind from cataracts and due to religion, she lived with blindness the rest of her life.  This left PJ with huge responsibility and he always talked about these facts and how he lived and worked to support the household.

He enlisted in the Canadian Navy in 1960, as he was expelled from school and was recommended by a judge who was a family friend. He trained as an aircraft mechanic in VU33.  He served in the Navy from 1960 – 1974. He travelled across Canada by train twice after basic training to and from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to Vancouver. He served in Dartmouth and then at Pat Bay, Vancouver Island.

In Halifax, he drove a stock race car and would talk about the races and his beloved race car.

He was married in Nova Scotia to Loise and his daughter Terry Lee was born in Halifax, in 1966, and his son Robin was born in Victoria, in 1969.

He retired from the Navy and started at Pacific Western Airlines in Vancouver and was married to Florene who was his second wife and helped raise her 4 children.  He often talked about the girls, the horseback riding, and the hockey teams that Stephen played on.

In 1985 he moved to Calgary as the airline transferred him to the airport here.  He met Terry Lyn on a blind date in 1986 and then spent the next 36 years married to her and raising Brett who was born in 1987.

PJ and Brett would go out camping and horseback riding in Kananaskis and out to Sandy McNabb campground. Brett had his dad’s support at hockey, lacrosse, and roller hockey.  spent many hours at the hockey rink and volunteering on the hockey teams.

He retired from the airline in 1999 and spent the rest of his life in Calgary. He would listen to Blue Grass music and play solitaire to fill his days. 

He was a “childcare professional” as he looked after grandson Mason after school every day for 6 years.

At PJ’s request there will be no service, “Remember me with a toast with your friends”.

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