Roger Franklin Martin

Roger passed away at home July 23, 2022, after an 8 year battle with prostate cancer.

Roger was born in Santa Barbara, California, on November 2, 1951, the 4th of 5 children. He spent his early years in California, and moved to Butte, Montana, as a junior in high school, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman on a football scholarship, where in his senior year, he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After graduation, he worked as a registered sanitarian for about a year, then served a mission for his church in Eastern Canada. It was on his mission that he realized how much he loved to teach, and once he returned home, he attended BYU to become a certified teacher.

His first teaching job was at Snake River High School in Idaho, where he was also one of the football coaches. During this time, he met Diane Jepson, whom he was so smitten with that he would drive hours to her home in Utah to visit her. They married in 1981, and lived happily in Blackfoot, Idaho, for 6 years. He also received his Masters of Teaching Science degree from Idaho State University during this time.

In 1987, they moved to Centerville, Utah, to be closer to their parents and he began to teach Biology at Woods Cross High School. Roger eventually starting working at the Davis School District Office and was in charge of the Educational Technology Initiative, where he facilitated teaching teachers to incorporate technology into their classrooms He enjoyed this work, and finished his career working for Davis School District. He also taught for the former LDS Business College and the BYU-Salt Lake Center for 25 years, teaching Biology 100 for non-science majors.

Roger loved teaching. For him there was nothing better than to have one of his Biology students come to him at the end of the semester and tell him that he changed their mind about biology, saying that they now found it interesting.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held many callings during his life, including working in 4 different Temples. His favorite callings involved teaching the youth and adult Sunday School classes.

After retiring in 2013, he started reading all the books he had postponed reading and could often be found asleep with a book in his lap, then claiming he was not actually asleep. He also enjoyed doing family history work. He enjoyed taking photographs of his sons playing sports and anything to do with nature.

He is survived by his wife, Diane Jepson Martin, his daughter, Shannon (Matthew) Willden, sons Shawn (Ali) Martin, Brian (Erica) Martin, and Chris (Taresa) Martin, and six grandchildren, Elder Spencer Willden, Zachary and Alli Willden, Annie, Landon and Nora Martin, and many nieces and nephews. Also survived by one brother, Pete (Peggy) Martin, and three sisters, Michele Ann (Michael) Wilmoth, Debbie McKlin and Jeanne Martin. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Betty Martin, and a sister, Bobbie Banderas.

The family would like to thank Dr. Benjamin Maughan and his team from the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their great care of Roger, and also Sara and Carly from Utah Home Health and Hospice for their tender care during his final days. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Huntsman Cancer Institute or donate blood or platelets to the American Red Cross.

A viewing will be held Thursday, July 28, 2022 from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, UT. 84010. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022 at the Canyon View LDS Ward located at 210 East 1825 North, Centerville, Utah, with a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Interment at Centerville Cemetery.