Harvey G. Martell
December 9, 1915 - January 23, 2007
Obituary
HARVEY G. MARTELL
Harvey Martell of Three Tree Pt., Burien, WA, passed away peacefully on Jan. 23, 2007. He was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1915 to LeRoi and Sadie MacKinnon Martell. As a child, he survived the Halifax explosion of 1917. He grew up in the Martell house situated on the original property granted to the family by King George III of England. He attended McDonald College in Montreal Canada. He was a Canadian and a U.S. Merchant Marine veteran of WWII, having survived many torpedo attacks, kamikaze attacks and anti-aircraft fire while on duty as a Chief Engineer on Liberty and Victory ships in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. He ended the war as a Commander and started working as a marine engineer for Texaco, Inc. in 1945 in Los Angeles, then Portland, OR, and then in Seattle until his retirement in 1978. He was a member of the Port Engineers, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and the Propeller Club of Seattle. During his years working in Seattle, Harvey experienced a different Seattle–one of fewer potholes and less traffic and more parking places! He rubbed shoulders with such maritime characters as Ivar Haglund, John Gasperetti, Ted Jones, Guy Lombardo and Bill Boeing, Jr. Harvey and Penny enjoyed an active retirement. Among Harvey’s passionate interests were family gatherings, geneology, gardening and travel. He could remember minute details of family history and of his travels with Penny. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Bernadette Penny, sons Richard Janet and Raymond Susie, grandson Daniel Martell, granddaughters Tina Martell Lannoye, Bonnie Martell Johnson and Jenny Martell and great-granddaughters Morgan and Natalie Lannoye. He is also survived by his sisters Peggy McComber, Ruth Jursevskis, and Joan Farncombe. He was preceded in death by his son Robert and his sister Mora Thomas. A memorial service conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard will be held at Mount Tahoma National Cemetery on Friday Feb. 2, 2007 at 3:00 PM. A reception will follow at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 15236 – 21st Avenue SW, Burien. Full obituary, directions, and an online guest book at www.bonneywatson.com.
To the Martell Family,
We are saddened by Uncle Harvey’s passing. He was quite a character and lived a rich life as evidenced in his obituary. When I call the house I will miss not hearing him yell, “PENNY, PHONE!” and then tell me “Poor old soul, you have to give her time to make it to the phone…” He was a bit of a Renaissance man who loved gourmet food, travel, woodworking, gardening, Native American dolls, history and above all, his family. All our love to the Martell family. Craig, Deb, Ivy and Rob
Grandpa,
I will always remember the fun times we had together and the many things you taught me when I was young. I have held those memories close to my heart for many years. I am sorry that over the past several years we didn’t always see eye to eye, but know that it helped make me a stronger person and helped to prepare me for the challenges I will face for the rest of my life.
Grandpa Harvey was definitely one of a kind with a mind of his own. One of the funniest memories I have was when Grandpa & Grandma used to take care of Tina & I while my parents were traveling. This of course meant they also took care of Fiona our surrogate sister. We loved teasing Grandpa Harvey about all of his little labels. From “Thank you for not smoking” on the backs of the front seats in the car, to the “5 minute limit” on the shower fan in the bathroom. One day, as he was driving Tina, Fiona, & me to Bellevue Square, we were teasing him about the labels in the car. Fiona then decided to tease grandpa about how slow he was driving.
Fiona: “Grandpa, did you ever notice that the cars in the s-l-o-w lane are passing you?”
Grandpa: “You better be careful young lady or I’ll pulll over and make you walk to Bellevue Square.”
Fiona : “I’d probably get there before you.”
For once, Grandpa was speechless.
Love you Grandpa & will miss you always. We will take good care of Grandma for you.
-Bonnie
Our sympathy and best wishes to Penny and the family.
Hal, as a Texaco Industrial Sales trainee,met Harvey in the mid 50’s. He accompanied Harvey on his many calls on French Line Ships and assisted with the unlimited hydro’s.
Bernadette and family,
You are in our thoughts and prayers. We love you!
Mary,Mike,Maddy,Molly and Megan
To Penny and all the family,
We were sad to hear that
Harvey was gone, and that that Cape Breton accent is silenced. We have many happy memories of times in Victoria and at Pacific Sands and of a visit to you in Seattle. He was a wonderful record- keeperand raconteur. As a first cousin,Elizabeth’s memories go back to summer visits in Mira,Cape Breton, with the wonderful Martell family when Harvey was a handsome teasing teenager. She also remembers lively times when Harvey lived with her family for a year or two and went to High School in Maitland, Nova Scotia. There, his Uncle Jack, the Rev. J.K. MacInnes,was very fond of him and kept him on course.
You will all miss him greatly, but we hope your happy memories will lessen your sorrow. We send our love and dearest sympathy to you all.
Elizabeth and Bill,
David, Janet,and Peter Riehm
Our Deepest Sympathy to Penny. Harvey and I worked together in Seattle for many years at Texaco. He was a wonderful person to work with. Our Sincere sympathy.
Tom & Sally Feeney Texaco
I am sorry to read of “Uncle Harvey’s” passing. I would enjoy visiting with him when I was a pianist at Nordstrom, and Harvey would sit by the piano while Penny shopped. My thoughts and prayers are with Penny and the family.
Penny and family
Our prays and thoughts are with you.We know what a great loss this is for all of you.
I am a high school buddy of Ray Martell, Harvey’s youngest son now 56.
I have fond memories of Harvey’s war stories over Drambuie and strong cigarettes. His adventures were right out of a Bogart movie, except they really happened.
He did not hesitate to get on my case if my hair was getting long, but I knew he wasn’t that serious about it.
I meant to call him sometime–he and wife Penny attended my wedding eight years ago– but didn’t get around to it. A lesson not to put things off, and now it’s too late–though I can hear him telling me it’s no big deal.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Harvey meets St. Peter–two strong personalities or what!