Martin Justin David Obituary

Martin Justin David, 61, passed away unexpectedly on March 9th, 2026, at Harborview Medical Center. Born in Bremerton, WA on May 27th, 1964, Marty came to find a loving home with Jane and Gary David and their three children of Silverdale, WA. With a talent for riding horses and bulls, Marty graduated from Central Kitsap High School with several rodeo trophies under his belt, but later followed his heart to the Northwest College of Art and Design in Poulsbo, WA.

After establishing careers in both construction and art, Marty started a family in Bremerton, WA with his (now, ex-) wife Marie and their two children. However, life had other plans for Marty. Divorced, he found himself in Port Townsend, a place he soon called home where he would often bring his two daughters, Kat and Christina Jane to visit and join him in his adventures around town.

While Marty made a modest living as master roofer and skilled contractor, he was locally known as a brilliant plein-air painter and sketch artist, often seen on the sidewalk painting busy street scenes or colorful natural landscapes. His eccentric and deeply caring nature was felt by loved ones, locals and strangers alike. Many will remember him wearing paint-splattered overalls and cowboy boots.

Marty was preceded in death by his sister, Amy; his father Gary; and his youngest daughter, Christina Jane. Marty is survived by his oldest daughter, Kat; his mother Jane; and his siblings Mindy, Lori, and Gary. A memorial and exhibit of his life’s creative work is being planned for the larger community for the end of 2026 or early 2027. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Dove House Recovery Cafe.

Case: 26-00636 

Name: Martin Justin David 

Age: 61 years 

Male 

Date of Incident: 03/04/2026 

Incident Location: Port Hadlock Roadway

Cause of Death: Suicide 03/09/2026 

Manner of Death: Complications of sharp force injury of the neck  

Investigation Agency: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Dove House Recovery Cafe

The Final Palette: A Community Memorializes the Unruly Spirit of Marty David

At the Dove House Recovery Cafe, the brushes are still wet with the legacy of a man who painted his way through the light and shadow of the Olympic Peninsula.

In the quiet, functional hallway of the Dove House Recovery Cafe, located in the maritime enclave of Port Townsend, a makeshift gallery has emerged. It is not curated with the sterile precision of a Chelsea white-cube space, but rather with the raw, textured poignancy of a life lived in the open air. This is the tribute to Martin “Marty” Justin David (1964–2026), an artist who spent his final decades proving that a shopping cart could be a studio and a community could be a canvas.

The memorial, positioned just past the cafe’s bustling main area, serves as a visual eulogy for a man whose presence was as permanent a fixture in town as the Victorian architecture he so loved to sketch.

A Heart Large Enough to Hold a Life

The centerpiece of the tribute is a striking portrait of David, framed by a broad, gestural heart painted in a defiant shade of red. David looks out from the image—clad in his signature cap and a weathered scarf made by his youngest daughter who committed suicide last September —with a gaze that suggests he is still observing the "typical northwest gray" he often praised. Below the portrait, the dates 1964–2026 mark the boundaries of a journey that took him from rodeo rings and Army Reserve drafting tables to the Victorian streets of Jefferson County.

Surrounding the portrait is an assemblage of community ephemera. A second white board serves as a "guest book" of sorts, covered in handwritten messages that speak to his impact. "We will miss you," one note reads; "Thank you for your art, for your life," says another. Interspersed among the text are photos of David in his element: sketching with a child, working in a cluttered studio, and standing amidst the tools of his trade. A small, vibrant painting of a green pine tree—roots and all—stands as a final testament to his evolving impressionistic style.

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The Tools of the Trade

Perhaps the most moving aspect of the memorial is the inclusion of David’s actual materials. A translucent bin overflows with acrylic paints, their caps smudged with the very colors that define the Port Townsend waterfront. Brushes of various sizes stand ready in a red plastic cup, and a smudged palette sits atop a yellow wooden stool, as if the artist has simply stepped away for a moment to check the light.

This tactile display echoes David’s own philosophy of "Artists at Work." He was a man who believed in the process—the "serotonin trigger" of creation—more than the finished product. To see his brushes here, in a space dedicated to recovery and second chances, feels like a deliberate nod to the role art played in David’s own life.

The Final Gift

While the tribute area captures the man, his work continues to speak from the walls. At the end of the hallway, a framed landscape—recently donated by David to the cafe—hangs in a position of quiet honor. The painting, a serene depiction of the natural world, acts as a "time capsule," a term David frequently used to describe his art.

In his final interviews, David spoke about wanting to "share what it’s like to be human." By leaving this piece to the Dove House, a place that serves those navigating their own light and shadow, he achieved that mission. The painting remains a window into the "essence of a thing" that David spent his life chasing.

For the patrons of the Recovery Cafe, the hallway is no longer just a path from one room to another; it is a reminder that even in the face of "unruly" circumstances, there is a beauty to be found in the spontaneous decision to stay, to paint, and to be seen.

Marty David memorial buttons are available
on top of the brown book shelf on the left under his portrait .

GoFundMe Campaign: Kat David

 

Help Kat with Expenses During This Difficult Time 

It hasn't even been 6 months since the passing of our baby sister, and now my little sister, Kat, had to make the heart wrenching decision to take her father, Martin, off life support. He is currently on life support at Harborview in Seattle until his organs can be donated. Like most people, her father did not have life insurance so the financial burden falls on his remaining daughter, Kat.

I am asking for funds to help Kat out during this difficult time in her life. Her and her fiancé, David, has been traveling back and forth from their home in Bellingham to Seattle to be by Martin's side. The funds will help with lost wages, gas expenses, hotel stay, food, and laying her father to rest.

GoFundMe Campaign: Kat David (March 7th, 2026)

NOTE: Marty David Button Donations will go to
the Kat David GoFundMe campaign.

RIP Marty Justin David. 🤎

Artwork by Marty David RIP

March 12: Port Townsend Facebook Post 

Gary Moreison

A tragic loss.

We will remember you Marty.

A candlelight vigil was held on Wednesday night.

Thank you to all who made tributes to Marty.

Wednesday March 11, 2026 Candlelight Vigil (Videos)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9SrUJ4MMXFtkhAYPA

Facebook Port Townsend Life  · 

Donita Wilson 
ntdesoopSrl7

Without going into too much detail, I’m wondering if anybody has heard anything about David Marty, the artist who wears the white paint speckled overalls and spends a lot of time downtown. One of my customers came in and said he heard he was in the hospital and not doing well. I’m not going to say anything else because I don’t wanna start the rumor mill. just trying to confirm that he is ok?!

Nextdoor

March 14: Nextdoor - Southwest Port Townsend

March 16: Nextdoor - Port Townsend Life

The Port Townsend Shirt Company Has This Commemorative Pin Button

In the comments, please post a photo of yourself wearing the Marty Daivd button with a story.

Story/Song Nov 27, 2025
🎨 The Audacity of Color: Marty David on Instinct, Flow, and the Mind of a Child

The plein air painter reveals the foundational moments and philosophical paradoxes that guide his hand

Introduction

Martin "Marty" Justin David, an artist known for his vibrant plein air figures and studio work, provided an intimate look into his creative life during a 2011 interview conducted within his temporary studio in Port Townsend. From the lasting impact of his childhood art teacher to the complex challenge of signing a finished piece, David shared the deep-seated motivations and practical philosophy that drive his process. (Read More)