Martin Saxton

“As the Elk bugles are heard echoing & the aspen leaves tinkle & change colors in the Wind River Mountains…”Marty was born in Boise, Idaho, December 7, 1945 to Elwin J. & Beryle Foreman Saxton.He was the oldest of their six children and loved baseball, fishing, hunting & camping from an early age, even excelling in the baseball field, until an arm injury slowed him down, as a teen.Marty joined the Navy in the late sixties and served 2 years on Guam. Making a lifelong friend during his time there, Ken Torgerson, from Montana.Marty was an accomplished athlete & competed in the U.S. Navy’s Volleyball team in Hawaii. He also learned to love snorkeling on the shores of Guam & Hawaii.Marty attended Flathead Community College in Kalispel, Montana, when he realized the Forest Service was calling his name.With lots of experience in the logging industry and love of the great outdoors, the U. S. Forest Service became a natural fit.Marty worked on the Boise National Forest, Bridger-Teton Nat.l Forest, Mark Twain National Forest & Black Hills National Forest for more than 35 years & enjoyed the challenges & the many friendships, promotions & awards.Marty has 4 living sons, Kelly Saxton of Idaho, Cody Saxton & Casey Saxton of Pinedale, Wyoming & M. J. Saxton of St. George, Utah. Marty has been preceded in death by another son, Kiley Saxton, in 1989.Marty met Brenda Libby in Pinedale, Wyoming in 1994 and the two were soon married in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1995. Their years together found them enjoying the outdoors, photography, traveling, & Marty had a great passion for his wife’s musical songwriting.Marty became a great friend to Brenda’s 2 daughters, Holly & Anedra and the couple share many grandchildren; each special & each referring to Marty as “Poppy”.Marty’s parents Elwin and Beryle Saxton reside in Meridian, Idaho & all his 5 siblings reside close by that area.Martin J. Saxton, Sr. began his journey to heaven at 9:15pm on August 28, 2011 in Rapid City, South Dakota where he was still employed at the Mystic Ranger District.