INDIANAPOLIS
Martin “Marty” Beck, 64, of Indianapolis, passed away peacefully Sunday night, April 19, 2015, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
Born July 23, 1950, in Seymour, he was the son of Nelson and Betty Juanita Nicholson Belding, both of whom preceded him in death. On Nov. 12, 1996, in Belize, Central America, he married his love, Tina Mergia. Tina was his everything and remained by his side until his last moment with us on Earth.
The son of a musician and a poet, Marty was a German American with a true Indiana heart. He loved Glenn Ford westerns, Harry Chapin and Indiana University basketball. He never forgot from where he came.
Growing up in Seymour, he had a difficult childhood. Marty began providing for his family as early as 14 years old. As a teenager, he took a bus to work each day in a slaughterhouse in Gary. Later in life, after working many years in sales, Marty retired from his career as an owner/operator at MTB Trading Company.
The son of artists, Marty’s creative outlet was in the kitchen. He loved to cook his famous biscuits and gravy, chili with cornbread and grilled pork chops. Marty never wasted. He used every part of an animal and shared his love for cooking with his family and friends, whom he loved dearly.
Marty loved nature. As an adult, he built his own log cabin, ran an apiary and bred St. Bernards. His favorite dog was always Bear until last fall, when he rescued a little puppy that he named Jax. They were inseparable until the last day of Marty’s life.
While he received chemotherapy for two kinds of cancer, Marty continued to work every day. One of the sweetest letters he ever received was from a little girl at the school where he worked. She thanked him for listening to her problems and helping her out with life. Marty was so touched by the letter that he always kept it.
Heaven welcomed “Dad,” “Papou” and Marty, who will be missed by so many. He is survived by his wife; two sons, Nicholas and David Laros; two grandchildren, Stergios and Alexandra Laros; his close, lifelong high school and college friend, Willie Higginbotham; three brothers, William, Dennis and Steve Beck; and two sisters, Sandra Ward and Peggy Polly.
Marty was preceded in death by his parents and Betty Elaine Dodge.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Voss Chapel in Seymour with the Rev. Keith Ross officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. until time of service Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be made at vossfuneralservice.com.