Karleigh Anne Martin

Karleigh Anne Martin met Jesus face to face on February 23, 2023 after a long, courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Karleigh met her Goliath of circumstance with resolve when she decided to stop treatment and move on to eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Karleigh was born to Grady Eugene and Melinda Anne Martin on September 23, 1997. She is the oldest of five children. Karleigh loves her siblings and one of her favorite things to do was to hang out with them. Karleigh affectionately calls Tyler who stands 6'7'', her "Little Buddy"! Karleigh led her siblings on many grand adventures. To her sisters, she leaves a legacy of compassion and nurturing and to her brothers, a fearless thirst for adventure and conquest. Karleigh loved to travel and to explore. She was hockey's biggest fan, maybe spurred on by her cousins who play hockey or by the good-looking (albeit stinky) NHL players. We may never know what sparked this hockey passion in her! But she is forever Vernal's biggest hockey fan as her jersey number #23 was retired in a ceremony conducted by the Vernal Oilers and Uintah Utes Hockey Associations. Karleigh is a warrior! She fought her Goliath and often kept difficult parts of her battle to herself as to not burden her loved ones. Karleigh spent her young adult life trying to be free and live the typical life while managing a cancer that never relented. Karleigh will be remembered for her countless acts of service, funny disposition, fearless ambition and fierce love of God and her family. Karleigh is a good servant, fought her battle well and won the race. Her most important achievement was complete on March 20, 2022 when she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Karleigh knew she wasn't fighting this battle alone and when she gave her life to Jesus, she said her anxieties ceased to exist! Those left behind are witnessing God's saving power and His glorious fulfillment of promise when He says He will never leave us or forsake us. God's light did shine through Karleigh. His light cannot be dimmed. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it. Thank you Karleigh for letting the Light shine through you, to us. We look to God to keep us until our reunion with Him and with you! We are forever and always in love with you, Karleigh Anne Martin! Karleigh is survived by her parents, Grady and Mindy Martin; her siblings Tyler, Kelsie, Jaron and Kamry; her favorite little side-kick, Kolter; grandma Louise Martin, grandpa DeVon (Sandra) Smuin and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, with a special shout out to life long childhood friend, Hannah Benedicto. Karleigh is preceded in death by her grandma Susan Smuin, grandpa Max Martin and great-grandma Millie Haslem, and great-grandma Carol Williamson. Please everyone, join us in celebrating Karleigh's life by fulfilling her request to wear your favorite hockey jersey, clean or stinky, as we gather to rejoice in the life lived by Karleigh and in her reunion with God and loved ones. Visitation with family will be held at the Uintah Conference Center on Monday February 27, 2023 from 9:00am-10:45 am with a Celebration of Life to follow at 11:00 am. Services under the direction of the Phillips Ashley Valley Funeral Home. #23 #celebratingkarleigh #andifnotHeisstillgood #weplayfork4rleigh #untilwemeetagain In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Karleigh Martin Memorial Fund at Grand Valley Bank.