Martin Q. Crowder Jr., of Proctorville, Ohio, entered his eternal home on December 7, 2025, following a brief illness. He was born on May 9, 1935, in Austinville, Virginia, to Martin Matthew and Annie Poole Crowder. The youngest of eight children and the second son, Martin cherished his family deeply.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Laura Jean Jackson Crowder; his parents; his brother Clinton; his sisters Mary Fraizer, Leila Smithers, Mildred King, Zola Shorters, Luella Dean, and Aileen Sisk.  As a family, they shared a deep love of music, often gathering to play guitar and sing together—a passion that was passed down to their children.

Martin is survived by his daughters, Sherri A. Perry and her husband Layne, and Angelia J. Crowder of Texas; grandchildren Rebekah Moore, Donnie Perry and his wife Jaina, Gershom Perry and his wife Brittany, and Rain Cornwell and her husband Nick; and five great-grandchildren he adored—Victoria Moore, Keira Perry, Emory Cornwell, John Mark Cornwell, and Jasper Perry. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Sammye Lucas, June Weatherman and her husband Roger, and Marjorie Lawson and her husband Harlan.

Martin was a man of curiosity and ingenuity. He loved understanding how things worked and possessed both a mechanical and creative mind. He began his career at Hanes in Galax, Virginia, and advanced through various career roles, always viewing each move as an opportunity to provide a better life for his family.

He relished the challenge of solving problems and never let a mechanical issue intimidate him. A lifelong learner, he even read the World Book Encyclopedia A-Z cover to cover. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, metalwork, leatherwork, and woodworking. He crafted knives, wooden keepsake boxes, leather belts, and holsters. His proudest creation was the cradle he built for his great-grandchildren to be passed through generations. So admired were his skills that his neighbors asked him to make cradles for their own grandchildren, each one a beautiful testament to his craftsmanship and love.

He will be remembered for his curious mind, skilled hands, and a loving heart—devoted to his family, Martin built treasures and a legacy of love that lives on in all he touched."

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 12:00 noon at the Reese Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time at noon. Burial will follow at the Jackson Cemetery in Ivanhoe, VA.

Reese Funeral Home, Austinville, VA is serving the Crowder family.