Marty Hoffman

November 3, 1941-May 22, 2025

As a young elementary school child, Marty learned a life-long lesson: it’s fun to make others happy. His florist mother often sent him out to deliver bouquets and remembered the joy he inwardly felt when someone opened the door, with a huge smile, to receive the bouquet.

Marty’s life up unto college was spent in a pastoral small town, Madison, MN, at a time children rode their bikes around the town to find a baseball game or to create their own games in the park where his grandfather had landscaped and planted Norwegian blue firs and stately cedars. (Police were sometimes called for their antics!)

After dropping out of the University of Minnesota after the first semester, he went home and worked for his parents, Solveig and O.G., at the nursery. A life-changing call came from Jiggs Westergard, the basketball coach from Texas Lutheran University, who asked if Marty would be interested in playing basketball for them, on a full scholarship. Marty said he’d be there the next day. He packed a few things in a cardboard box, got on a bus and arrived in Seguin, TX in the midst of Category 4 Hurricane Carla.

At college, he met his wife-to-be Beverly Kiel, who he married in 1966. Both taught in underprivileged schools in Seguin, TX. In a recent visit to Seguin, several students Marty taught remembered how he made a basketball court outside, bought some balls, and the kids had a new activity than sliding down a hill on newspaper near a dump.

After getting his Master’s in Administrative Credentials at Southwest Texas University, Marty and Beverly went to Panama in 1968 and taught for the U.S.-accredited Panama Canal schools and Department of Defense schools in the Canal Zone. He taught physical education before becoming a principal in both elementary and high schools. As an elementary principal, he sometimes wanted to free up time for his staff, so he’d take all 300 students into the outdoor gym for 30 minutes of games or singing.

Both children, Scott and Allison, were born in the Canal Zone. Life in Panama meant gorgeous beaches, swimming and fishing in Gatun Lake, forays into the jungle for birding or catching butterflies and bugs, countless sporting events, and, refereeing football and basketball games, and, best of all, forming deep friendships, treasured still.

In 1996, a second life-changing event for Marty and Beverly was their retirement to Sequim, WA, a place of repose and beauty they never took for granted. Marty was a member at Sunland Golf Club and served on the board, a member of the Strait Men Barbershop Chorus/quartet and served as president for several years, and learned to play pickleball and especially loved playing with his granddaughters.

During his time in Sequim, Scott married his life-partner Nichole and have daughters Nevaeh and Lily. Allison, too, married her love, Doug Hastings and they have two daughters, McKenna and Kendall. He also enjoyed being around his older sister, Sara Peterson, a Sequim resident, and also had a special bond with his younger sister in Texas, Susan Strey and her husband Fred. He loved keeping in contact with his nieces and nephews, children of two deceased brothers: Ollie and James.

Marty’s life in Sequim was full—crabbing, boating, golfing, pickleball, camping with granddaughters, and poker with friends. Two community projects captured his heart: for over 15 years, he loved working with Healthy Families (supporting victims of abuse and violence) by supplying a household of furniture and goods for victims moving into new housing, helped by his hard-lifting male friends and 8 donated storage sheds of donated goods. The second was Holiday Lane, decorating the 4-mile stretch of Diamond Point with holiday decorations, including Santa in a sleigh. About 50 Diamond Pointers helped each year with that project of over 15 years.

He always saved the biggest part of his very big heart for his children, their spouses and his four treasured granddaughters, and, of course, his bride of 58 years, tucking her in every night and setting out her teacup for the next morning. His Spirit Animal, the eagle, will soar in his family’s lives.

A memorial Fund has been set up where Beverly will continue supporting two heart-projects:

1. Continue monthly payments to Thann Sok and his family of 5, and to Theary Thy. Marty met them 7 years ago on a trip to Cambodia and has kept in touch with them.

2. Supporting Sequim athletes who need assistance to participate in a given sport. Checks could be made out to Beverly Hoffman, with a designation of “Cambodia” or “sports”. (1400 W. Washington, Suite 104 PMB 59; Sequim, WA 98382).

Paula Grace Cowan

Paula Grace Cowan of Port Angeles died on June 17, 2025 at her home in Port Angeles.

She was 78.

Cowan was born Sept. 21, 1946.

Sign a guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.