|
Obituary: James M. Martin, 77, Croghan
Published: October 09, 2026
By: Provided by Scanlon Funeral Home
James M. Martin
 CROGHAN, NY- James M. Martin,
77, of 9742 S. Bridge St., Croghan, died unexpectedly at his home on
Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Born September 2,
1949 in Lowville, NY, a son of Melvin and Delia
(Zehr) Martin, he was a 1968 graduate of Beaver River Central School.
Following high school, he attended Alfred State College in Wellsville, NY
from where he received an Associate Degree in Building Trades.
He married Betty
Jean Marolf on September 26, 1970 at the First
Mennonite Church in New Bremen.
He began work
after college with his father and family with the operation of the Croghan
Island Mill, an historic, water-powered sawmill and woodworking complex
located on Croghan Island in the Beaver River in Croghan, which the Martin
family acquired in 1969 from the former Lehman & Zehr.
 In 1973, Jim joined the Croghan Volunteer
Fire Department and was its Fire Chief from 1976 until 1986. Beginning in
1980, he became and continued as a Deputy Fire Coordinator until 2004 when
he was appointed as the Lewis County Fire Coordinator and Emergency Manager
until retiring on September 26, 2014. The highlights of his long fire
career included being an EMT with the Croghan Ambulance for numerous years,
and in 1986, being one of the first firemen to take the 80-hour Fire/Arson
Investigation course in Montour Falls and then helping to set up Lewis
County’s Cause & Origin Team. Additionally, he served as Second in
Command under all previous Coordinators and the same in both Fire and
Emergency Management under Michael Tabolt.
Survivors include
his loving wife, Betty, of 56 years; his beloved two children, Tammy (Chad)
Atwood, of Lowville, and Matt (NaDina) Martin, of Croghan; three
grandchildren, Brandon (Sydnee) Atwood, of Glenfield, Tara (Paul) Little,
Jr., of Lowville, and Kadin Martin, of Croghan; his brother, John Martin,
of Croghan; his sister Janet (Gerry) Brouty, of
Croghan, his brother-in-law, Milford Roggie, of Beaver Falls; brothers and
sisters-in-law, Dale and Bethany Marolf, West Virginia, Bruce and Pam
Marolf, Castorland, Calvin and Sandy Marolf, and Nancy and Kenny Myers, all
of Carthage.
He was
predeceased by his sister, Mary Lou Roggie, and his sister-in-law, Twila
Marolf.
Throughout his
life, Jim loved his time spent at camp and deer hunting.
Funeral services
for Jim will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026
at 10:30 a.m. at the Croghan Mennonite Church with Paul Mast, Bruce Roggie
and Jason Roggie, ministers of the Church, officiating.
Calling hours
will be on Tuesday, October 13th from 2-4 p.m., and from 5-8
p.m. at the church. His interment will follow his funeral service in the
church cemetery.
Memorial
donations may be made to the Croghan Volunteer Fire Department.
Arrangements are
with Scanlon Funeral Home, Croghan.
Condolences and
messages of sympathy at www.scanlonfuneral.com.
|
