Vilate Martin

Charlotte Vilate Martin left this world on March 31, 2017 after a long and adventurous life.

Vilate was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 4, 1930 to Andrew and Gladys Nielson Smith.  

She enjoyed spending her summers on the Nielson Farm in Hyrum UT, where the fresh country air helped her overcome the rheumatic fever she contracted when she was young.  She had great memories of the family cabin in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  She graduated from West High School, then she worked that summer in Jackson, WY where she met her future husband, Henry Martin.  After being married in the Salt Lake Temple, they had four children: Sheri (Michael) Sorensen, Loretta (Brad) Duncan, Marcella (Tom) Lyman, and Steve Martin.  They also adopted a son, Shane, when he was 10 months old. Sadly, Shane passed away when he was only 16 years old.

Henry and Vilate moved to Idaho Falls where they raised their children.  She was adventurous and loved to ski and race stock cars.  She was a part-time nurse's assistant at Sacred Heart Hospital in Idaho Falls.  She was also a Magician's Assistant.  She loved to knit, quilt, and take care of her pets.  She was an active member of the LDS Church and served in many callings, but she loved being a primary teacher the most.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, her son, Shane, her granddaughter, Macae, and her sister, Ann. Vilate is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the many caretakers at the Wentworth and Sheridan Assisted Living Centers. And, extend their heartfelt gratitude to Margaret Ann Robinson and Mike Howard, who loved Vilate throughout her life, and spent countless hours caring for and supporting Vilate in her final years.

There was a service at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery in Idaho Falls, ID on Wednesday, April 4th, 2018, where Vilate was laid to rest.