Martin L. Bray

Surrounded by his loving family in his final moments, Martin Luther

Bray III, passed from this life into the next to meet his savior Jesus

Christ.

Martin L Bray, age 86, from Canton, Illinois was born on February 3,

1938, in Washington DC, the son of Martin L Bray, Jr. and Ethel Dixon

Bray. He married Janet D Harris on August 26, 1961, in Duarte,

California. Preceding him in death are his parents.

Surviving are his wife, Janet Bray, Canton, IL. Also surviving are

sisters Jean (Guy) Southers, Centreville, VA; Helain (Kevin) Steele, Ft.

Collins, CO; Mildred (Andy) Blake, Taylor, TX; and Shirley Bray, San

Antonio, TX.

He leaves a legacy through daughters Karen (Trent) Tucker,

Mansfield, TX, and Deanna (Brett) Chatterton, Avon, IL. Also he was

proud of his grandchildren Jason (Lauren) Chatterton, Joshua

(Margaret) Chatterton, Brittany (Nathaniel) Roberts, Alexander Tucker,

Josiah (Hannah) Chatterton, Bailey (Daniel) Taflinger, Brenna

Chatterton, AnnaMary Chatterton, Hadassah Chatterton and his eight

great-grandchildren.

He was reared in Vienna, VA, and graduated from Fairfax High

School, Fairfax, VA in 1956. He served his country in the United

States Army for 3 years in Berlin, Germany during the Cold War era.

He then moved to California and earned a BS in Electronic

Engineering from Pacific States University, Los Angeles, CA, and a

BS in Computer Science from West Coast University, Orange, CA.

After that, he married and worked in the Aerospace Industry as a

design engineer. He moved with his family to Wataga, IL in 1974, to

start a business. He then worked as an Electronic Engineer for

Caterpillar in East Peoria for 8 years and at Sommer Products in

Bartonville for 18 years. In pursuit of his dream to live and work on a

farm he purchased a farm in Missouri as a “hobby” for weekends and

then purchased a farm closer to his “day job” in rural Smithfield, IL in

1988. He continued to farm until his death.

He served his community as a member of the Fulton County Farm

Bureau, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and the

Wataga Village Board. Also, he was a member of the Shirt and Skirt

Square Dance Club of Canton. He was a devoted member of Fiatt

Independent Christian Church where he served on the finance

committee.

Martin’s favorite activities in life were working on the farm, riding his

bicycle, reading, and spending time with his family.

A visitation will be held at Fiatt Independent Christian Church in Fiatt,

IL on Saturday, June 15, at 9:00 am. A service will follow at the church

at 10:30 am. Memorials may be made to Fiatt Independent Christian

Church or to OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, IL.