Shawn Handley Martin

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Shawn Handley Martin, age 51, returned home to his Heavenly Father on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, after a 2.5-year courageous battle with brain cancer.

Shawn was born Jan. 31, 1968, to Aaron and Nancy Martin, six minutes after his twin brother, Quinn. He grew up 12 miles south of Evanston on Hilliard Flat, on the family ranch. He loved ranching with his dad and brothers.

Shawn attended Evanston High School and graduated in 1986. He loved wrestling and received many awards. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania mission and often expressed his love for his mission and the people there.

After his mission, he attended BYU Idaho (Ricks College) where he met the love of his life, Cari Jean Muir, from Randolph, Utah. During their time at Ricks, they were on the rodeo team, where they spent many days riding horses together. On Sept. 28, 1990, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

Shawn and Cari loved to travel to many team roping jackpots and rodeos, and you could often find Shawn working as a pickup man at local rodeos. Shawn was a hard worker and enjoyed shoeing many horses over the years. He never went without his family, and they can attest to handing him thousands of nails over the years.

He loved to break and train colts, and one of his greatest accomplishments was to make sure he had his six children mounted on good, trustworthy horses. He enjoyed teaching his children how to rope and going down the road to team ropings with them. He loved his wife and children and was always known for a hug and an “I love you” daily.

Shawn was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings as a bishopric member, as a member of the High Council and working with the youth. He often said how he enjoyed serving in the church with many wonderful men.

Shawn is survived by his wife, Cari of Evanston; six children, Kaylee (Justin) Permann of Eagle Mountain, Utah; Tycee (Cooper) Cornia of Randolph, Utah; Brett Martin, Clay Martin, Ryan Martin and Lane Martin all of Evanston; and one grandson who he was very proud of, McKay Cornia of Randolph, Utah.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Dorthy Martin; and his uncle, Jack Martin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Evanston LDS Elm Street building, 251 Elm St., Evanston. A Viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, and also from 9:30-10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Elm Street building.

We would like to give a very special thank you to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their great care. Special thanks to Dr. Coleman, Dr. Sean Strope and the many nurses he grew to love that took care of him. Also, a thank you to Best Home Health and Hospice, especially Natalie.