Gordon John Martin

August 7, 1960 - November 24, 2023

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Gordon Martin after the rupture of a brain aneurysm.

Gord will be acutely missed by his wife of 34 years, Sue, his three sons Andrew (Alaysia) in Prince George, Michael (Kirsten) and their daughter Talvi in Abbotsford and Nathaniel (Chelsea) also in Prince George. Gord is also survived by his parents, Dr. Gordon and Dolores Martin and his brother Mark in Oregon.

Gordon was a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators for 35 years and served in Chad, Africa with his family for 12 of those years, living with and loving the Sokoro people and analyzing and writing their formerly unwritten language.

Gord, from Oregon met Sue, from Ontario, while doing linguistic studies in Dallas, Texas. After marrying, they headed to France with baby Andrew, for language study, where Michael was born, then to Cameroon and finally Chad.

All three boys grew up in traditional mud houses with thatch roofs, hearing and speaking four languages each day. When the family moved to Canada in 2005, Gord taught linguistics for CanIL at Trinity Western University in Langley.

Gord then switched back to his earlier career in computer programming, eventually working on the Bloom Project, the international award-winning software ecosystem for developing literacy worldwide (still under Wycliffe/SIL). It is presently the 'go-to' software for US AID, World Vision and most literacy work around the globe.

Gord had been working from his home office in Hope since 2011. He loved hiking, paddling and singing with his wife, Sue. He sang and played his trumpet (not simultaneously) with his Northwest Harvest Church family, sang with the Hope Community Choir the past few years and was loved by many 'adopted' kids and dear friends.

He will be remembered for his love of God and His Word, strategy games, history, corny dad jokes, the Seahawks, LOTR and StarTrek, but mainly for his open, friendly and forgiving nature and his patience and kindness.

Although Gord's home-going was sudden, we are confident that his life spent in loving his Lord and serving His people, is one without regret and full of eternal reward. "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Jesus said "I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies."

~ The Gospel of John 11:25

There will be a Celebration of Life for Gordon on Saturday, Dec 9 @11am Grace Baptist Church