Martin August Coles

Martin August Coles, age 75, died Monday, April 13, 2026, at his home in Brenham, Texas.

Martin is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Luanne Appel Coles, his son, Andrew Coles and wife Corinna, and his three daughters, Grace Slatunas and husband Shawn, Anna Gaspar, and Caroline Neumann and husband Nick. His pride and joy were his four grandchildren: Gideon and Sage Slatunas, and Catherine and Julia Coles. He is also survived by his two sisters, Anita Hollister and her husband James, and Leah Cooke and her husband Michael Cooke, all residing in North Carolina. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Aloysius Pavliak.

Martin was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Lombard, Illinois, where he attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Glenbard East High School. He received a Teaching Scholarship at Northern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in History. He did post-graduate work in Accounting at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Houston.

Martin was a Certified Public Accountant in good standing in the State of Texas from 1988 until his retirement in 2013. He worked for ExxonMobil Corporation for almost 40 years in numerous Accounting, Management, and Auditing positions.

Martin came to Texas in 1981, where he met his wife, Luanne Appel, in Houston. They were married at Brenham First Baptist Church in 1982 and raised their family in Copperfield in Northwest Houston. Martin taught afterschool chess classes at Copeland Elementary.

Martin retained his passion for History. He researched his wife’s family history and completed the paperwork so that in 1987, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas accepted three generations of Coles-McCrocklin’s into its membership: Luanne Appel Coles (wife), Mary Lou Appel (mother), and Madora McCrocklin (great-aunt). His research also aided in Luanne’s membership into the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Martin was a member of the Independence Historical Society and performed many genealogical research studies for friends and family. He gave presentations on Jessie Lindsey McCrocklin and the Runaway Scrape to various organizations such as the Independence Historical Society and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Martin wrote an abbreviated biography “John Prince Coles” published in Austin’s Old Three Hundred, Histories of the First Anglo Colonists, by Eakin Press in 2011.

In 2015, Martin participated in the McArdle Roundtable discussion on the Texas painter Henry McArdle at the Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University.

Martin attended St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Brenham, Texas. He served as the Finance Committee Chair from 2015 to 2019. Before that, he participated in other church activities, such as the Tuesday Night Book Club and Doers. In 2015, he led a Lenten Study on Max Lucado’s book, "It's Not About Me”. Before moving to Brenham, he served as Treasurer at St. Cuthbert Church in Houston, and Adult Education Co-Director at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Cypress. He also was a member of Lifepath Church in Cypress and participated in their weekly small-group home-based Bible studies.

Martin was a member of Prison Fellowship Ministries from 2011 to 2019. He led a team of volunteers at the J. W. Hamilton Unit in Bryan, Texas, teaching life skills based on Biblical principles.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse or the charity of your choice.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 17, 2026, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Interment will be at Prairie Lea Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a reception afterwards at the church parish hall.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979.836.3611 Share condolences at www.brenhammemorialchapel.com.