Coroner served with 'grace and aplomb'

Jana Mathia, Gazette Reporter | Feb 08, 20180

After serving for 37 years as Whitman County Coroner, Pete Martin is well remembered and thought of by those he has served and worked with.

“Pete has been a delight to work with over the years,” said Commission Chair Dean Kinzer.

“He’s a great coroner,” said Commissioner Michael Largent. He added that Martin did his duties with “grace and aplomb” and that is what he was elected to do.

“He was always thorough, did an excellent job,” said Robert Kramer, director of Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa. He first came to know Martin well when he was mayor of Palouse and Martin was running for county commissioner. The pair raced elephants on Main Street in Palouse, he recalled.

“He’s been super as coroner,” Kramer said. He always knew Martin would do the best he could and that the coroner’s office was aware he would be checking so they were too.

Kramer added that Martin did a good job of training the rest of the coroner’s office. Annie Pillers, who is deputy coroner and has worked with Martin since 2008, echoed that, saying Martin was generous with his knowledge and time.

“Even when we were new, he took the time to share his knowledge,” she said.

Martin was known for his personality and sense of humor.

“His wit and humor were always refreshing,” Largent said. “I have certainly enjoyed working with Pete through the years.”

Largent claimed he will be saving all Martin’s phone messages, because he considered them “collector’s items.”

Pillers noted that part of Martin’s career was how he helped families find answers after the deaths of their loved ones.

“Pete is a wonderful, kind, generous man,” she said.

Commissioners noted Martin’s budget improved immensely after the hire of Pillers because Martin was “not the biggest budget guy.” Largent recalled that when it came time for the department budgets, Martin would bring a box of donuts to help ease the commissioner’s discomfort in dealing with his budget.

Martin made Whitman County government a good place to work, Largent said. His absence will be noted by those he worked with.

“I will miss him” said Pillers. “And I will miss him personally as a friend.”