Obituary of Sally Anne Martin

Sally Anne Martin, a resident of Pearland, passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at her home at the age of 44 years. Sally was born October 16, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Margaret Robbins Clack and the late John Ivan Clack. She graduated cum laude and received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and business from Southwest Texas State University in 1986 and immediately began her career with the Houston Rockets organization. Sally devoted 21 years to working for the Rockets, including 11 as Manager of Basketball Operations. She was an instrumental member of the basketball operations staff who loved the Rockets and took great personal pride in every aspect of her work. When Sally first arrived to the Rockets organization in 1986 as an administrative assistant, the team’s entire front office was composed of just a handful of staffers and she soon proved to be a star behind the scenes. After five years in that role, she moved over to basketball operations as an assistant where she truly made her mark on the organization. Her hard work ethic and passion for her job were evident in everything that she did and she quickly rose up the ranks within the organization. In 1996, Sally was promoted to Manager of Basketball Operations and was put in charge of overseeing all daily team operations for the Rockets coaches, players and basketball staff, including coordination of team travel. During her time at the Rockets she worked for General Managers Ray Patterson and Carroll Dawson and assisted Rockets coaches Bill Fitch, Don Chaney, Rudy Tomjanovich and Jeff Van Gundy. A music enthusiast, who enjoyed playing the piano for friends and family, Sally was a loving wife and mother. She married her soul mate, Malcolm, on February 24, 2001—a little over a year after being introduced by mutual friends. The couple formed an immediate and inseparable bond that will continue to live on. On January 21, 2002, Sally and Malcolm celebrated the birth of their beautiful daughter, Belle. The family was blessed again in March of this past year with the arrival of William Blake Hunter. Sally’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her family. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a loving, caring person who was always ready, willing and able to help those that needed assistance. Sally is survived by her husband, Malcolm Martin; two beautiful children, Belle Louise and William Blake Hunter Martin; her mother, Margaret Robbins Clack, of Missouri City; her brother, John Marcus Clack and his wife, Zita, of Missouri City; numerous other relatives and a host of dear friends. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, June 1, 2007, at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway in Pearland. A celebration of Sally’s life will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 2, 2007, in the Chapel of Clayton Funeral Home with Rev. Sam Granberry officiating. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery. For those desiring memorials may be made in Sally’s honor to Belle and Blake’s college fund; Edward Jones Investments, 9330 W. Broadway, Suite 220, Pearland, TX 77584. For assistance with questions regarding the memorial fund, please call 281-485-9812. Clayton Logo # 1361