John Martin Francis, Jr.

John Martin Francis died at home on March 12, 2026, after a long and independent life. He was born on May 16, 1935, in Manhattan, New York, the oldest of three boys born to John M. Francis Sr. and Gretchen Snyder Francis.

In 1944, the family moved to North Egremont, Massachusetts, to a home his grandmother had previously owned. Martin—as he preferred to be called—spent much of his boyhood exploring the woods and the nearby Green River with his younger brothers, adventures that helped foster his lifelong appreciation for nature and the outdoors.

He attended Berkshire School for Boys, a college preparatory school in Sheffield MA, as a day student. After completing his studies there, he went on to attend Harvard University where he earned a degree in physics, graduating in 1956.

Though he later said he never felt confident pursuing a career in physics, his curiosity and intellectual interests remained with him throughout his life. He also served in the United States Air Force.

After college, Martin worked for a time at the Berkshire Courier, the weekly newspaper run by his father. After his father’s death in 1964, he left Massachusetts and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. There he supported himself mainly through carpentry work and yard work, and for a time tried his hand at farming. A dedicated runner, he participated in the Pikes Peak Marathon for several years and achieved an impressive fifth-place finish in 1966 with a time of 4 hours and 52 minutes.

Later in life, Martin settled in Portland, Oregon, where he spent the remainder of his years. He continued working well into his eighties, a testament to his independence and strong work ethic.

Martin enjoyed quiet activities such as fishing, gardening, and baking. He was fascinated by meteorology and the weather, and his enthusiasm for the stock market led him to spend countless hours at his computer tracking financial trends and fluctuations.

A deeply religious man, Martin found community in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. In 2010, he was ordained to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. In this role, he participated in church service, including ministering to others, offering blessings, and supporting the spiritual and practical needs of fellow congregants.

Though he never married, Martin was a devoted uncle and remained closely connected to his family. He faithfully sent Christmas packages (including his homemade anise seed cookies) each year to his nieces and nephew, visited his brother David W. on the East Coast and his nephew David T. in Seattle annually and stayed in touch through letters following the lives and activities of his grandnieces and grandnephew with interest.

Martin was a gentle man with a kind and generous heart.

He was preceded in death by his parents; youngest brother, Gerry; and niece, Hanneli. He is survived by his brother, David W.; nieces, Cindy, Christine, Genoveva, and Hazel; and nephew, David T. Francis.

Interment will be at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City, Oregon.