Marty was born in Salt Lake City to Donald and Juanita Cowburn and was the youngest of three children. Marty grew up in the Salt Lake area and attended Granger High School.
At the age of 17 Marty enlisted in the United States Navy where he received training as a jet mechanic. After graduation Marty joined the fighter squadron, VF III Sundowners. They boarded the USS Midway and arrived at the combat station on the coast of Vietnam in March 1965. Marty was plane captain for three separate skippers during this deployment. After eight months of service their squadron returned to Miramar Naval Air Station. Two months later, he with the same fighter squadron boarded the USS Oriskany and returned to the combat zone off South Vietnam. After tragedy struck the USS Oriskany, Marty was presented with Letters of Accommodation, a Presidential Unit of Citation and Bronze Star for his bravery and selfless service. Marty was always so proud of his service in the Navy and so are all of us that are cheering for Marty and his selfless life.
After the Navy, Marty became a barber with an entrepreneurial spirit and started several hairstyling salons along with his wife Linda. He had a brilliant mind, and it was impossible to keep up when he talked of mechanics or physics. He was always being asked to help start companies with people. He loved talking about the Gospel and had a simplistic way of explaining these things. When Marty believed something, he shared it with everyone. He was also a Golden Glove Boxer and loved going to Lake Powell with his family. Marty never made us wonder of his love for us; he told us every chance he had.
Marty married his eternal companion Linda Utley after only dating two weeks. “When you know, you know!” Later they were sealed for time and eternity in the American Fork Temple, together for over 50 years. They have six children: Wendy (Dave) Flygare, American Fork, UT, Laurie (Ken) Burrows, Orem, UT, Tad (Megan) Ruggles, Homeland, CA, Kristen (Steve) Ruth, Orem, UT, Karly Johnson, Orem, UT, Kassie (Matt) Whipple, Eagle Mountain, UT, and foster daughter Sandi Shondee, Arizona.
Marty’s life was wholly devoted to his family. He lived his life in service to his family and all he knew. Even in his last hours he couldn’t stop talking about how much he loved us all. There was nothing this mountain of a man wouldn’t do for any of us. All those who knew Marty know this is true. He touched the lives of countless numbers, many of whom we were unaware of until now as all the tributes and amazing stories of love came pouring in reinforcing his life of service judging no one and loving all. We are thankful for the countless memories, the overwhelming feeling of love, and the peace we feel in our hearts knowing that love will never fade or leave us.
Linda with her six children, 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren will honor the life of Marty and lay him in his final resting place Saturday, December 18, 2021. Our hearts are broken and somehow through the sorrow we feel love, hope and peace for that day we will all meet again...TIL VALHALLA Marty!
Marty was proceeded in death by his parents, Donald and Juanita, his older brothers Donny and Barry, and his mother and father-in-law, Scott and Cleo Utley.
Funeral services will be held Saturday December 18, 2021, at 11:00 AM in the LDS Stake Center, 810 E 600 N Orem, UT. Friends and Family are welcome to visit Friday, December 17, from 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E 800 N, Orem, UT, and Saturday from 9:30 – 10:30 at the Stake Center prior to the services. Interment will be held at the Orem City Cemetery.
