On Thursday, November 15, 2018, Martin Phillip Chavez, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 46. Martin (Marty) was born on October 17, 1972 in Torrance, CA to Andres and Judith (Peterson) Chavez. Marty was baptized in January 1973 in Torrance, CA.
For grades 1-8, Marty attended St. Philomena in Des Moines, WA. In 1990, he graduated from John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, WA. He studied Visual Communication and Logo Design at many art schools in Seattle, WA.
On July 8, 2006 he married the love of his life, Kelly Anne Gilje. They had two sons, Peterson Danger and Franklin Otto, and a daughter, Ramona Louise. After Peterson’s birth, Marty became a stay-at-home dad and set the bar so high that he was featured in Seattle’s Child magazine.
Though he demonstrated tremendous love for his family every day, the inventive Halloween costumes and birthday cakes he made were the envy of social media. Marty was actively involved with King Street Cooperative Preschool from the time his oldest son enrolled in 2012. He led the auction committee, worked tirelessly to create elaborate decorations, and was known for delighting the children with creative and fun snacks.
In 2017, Marty became a preschool teacher at King Street, a role that brought immense joy to him, the teachers, and the students. Marty loved fixing things and found opportunities to create art all around him. He built a little free library and painted the fire hydrants in his neighborhood to look like Evel Knievel and J.P. Patches.
A fan of rare memorabilia, Marty always spotted thrift store gems and amassed an impressive collection of metal lunchboxes and mid-century modern furniture. He had a passion for riding and rebuilding vintage scooters, a special favorite being the “the Wedding Bike,” a Lambretta LI 150 Series I that Marty lovingly restored for his wedding. “The guy with the truck,” Marty’s friends will remember him always showing up ready to help.
He was known for his infectious laugh, his dry sense of humor, and often referring to himself as “grumpy,” though he never really was. Marty was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned his Eagle rank. He also belonged to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and was a founding member of the Los Gatos Gordos Scooter Club.
Marty was a parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seattle. Marty was preceded in death by his father, Andres, and his mother, Judith. He is survived by his wife, Kelly, his three children, Peterson, Franklin, and Ramona, his brother, Michael, his sister, Marita Chavez, his two nephews, Drew Lombard and Cole Thompson, and a large extended family.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 11 o’clock in the morning, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seattle, WA. A reception will immediately follow in the fellowship hall. Burial will take place on Monday, November 26, 2018 at Gethsemane Cemetary in Federal Way, WA for family and close friends only.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to benefit Marty’s children www. gofundme.com/Remembering-marty-chavez Please share your memories of Martin by signing his online guest book.
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