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     Nancy Elizabeth Martin was born on 5 April 1978 at Mississippi.² She was the daughter of Frank Culpepper Martin and Nancy Unknown.² She married Jason Albert Koen, son of Ronald Gene Koen and Diana Camacho, on 20 November 2010 at Dallas County, Texas.¹ The cause of death for Nancy Elizabeth Martin was breast cancer. She died on 23 March 2022 at USA at age 43.²

Nancy Elizabeth Martin Koen

Heaven welcomed a beautiful angel by the name of Nancy Elizabeth Martin Koen who, surrounded by family, peacefully passed on from this life and gently fell into the arms of her Lord on March 23, 2022.

Nancy Elizabeth Martin was born on April 5, 1978, to parents Frank C. and Nancy Martin of Laurel. A very happy and whimsical child, her education began at St. John’s Day School and Jones Junior High School. Darlington Prep School, in Rome, Ga., completed her high school years. The University of Southern Mississippi was next on her academic agenda to pursue and earn a degree in fashion marketing and design. This self-professed small-town Southern girl was a force of nature in setting career goals and achieving each one by representing brands like Puma, Gap and Prada. Her dream job came about as a “not what you know… but who you know” with a friend telling her of a job opening with a top mystery designer. Never letting grass grow under her feet, Nancy secured the coveted interview, aced the intense employment interrogation and thus began her next career challenge with the House of Valentino Design Group, where she was a national retail coordinator. Not to rest on her laurels, in her two minutes of spare time, she and a business partner created B STELLER, a modern jewelry design house. Career and business success followed with accolades of being selected as Dallas’s CultureMap Stylemaker and recognized as a Fashion Icon Trendsetter.

Accomplishing her many career goals, Nancy left the hectic and demanding work force to concentrate on family. Not to be idle for long, THE BOX GALLERY was imagined. She and her husband Jason reinvented a family box business warehouse, that was in deep neglect, into a museum-quality venue. THE BOX GALLERY exhibited well-known artists as well as inaugural exhibitions and housed rented artist studios.

Nancy graced so many people in her life with an optimistic and vibrant soul that shined brighter than any star in heaven. Her glow was at its brightest when being a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter and friend. Her contagious smile, laughter, fierce dance moves, impeccable style, deep-rooted Southern manners and radiant spirit will be remembered for years to come.

Nancy was preceded in death by her father Frank Culpepper Martin; stepfather Dr. John Guice; grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Martin and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Picket; and her special grandmother by love Jewel “JuJu” Smith.

She is survived by her adoring husband Jason; her sons Zion and Jason; her mother Nancy Martin Guice; brothers Frank “Pepper” C. Martin Jr. (Penny) and Miles Martin; sisters Karen Martin Larson and Pam Martin Batman (Kent); stepsister Soni Buckalew; stepbrother John Guice Jr; mother-in-law and father-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Ron Koen; aunt and uncle James Wray and Shirley Bush, uncle Richard Martin and aunt Jane Martin Gregory; along with many relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will be on Tuesday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 541 North 5th Ave. in Laurel. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. with service at 3 p.m. Private family interment to follow at a later date.

The family requests the wearing of bright colors in celebration of Nancy’s Birthday.

In lieu of flowers, donate to Lauren Rogers Museum or St. John’s Episcopal Church.³



A memorial article was published on Glasstire's website.

Nancy Koen, 1978 – 2022
by Erika Jaeggli & Keer Tanchak

Last month the Texas art community lost a dear friend and colleague. Nancy Koen was a beloved presence in Dallas and beyond for many reasons, most recently for her role in running The Box Company with her husband and co-founder Jason Koen.

Ms. Koen grew up in Laurel, Mississippi and attended The University of Southern Mississippi for fashion marketing and design. Her early career involved representing various fashion brands. She later held the position of national retail coordinator for the House of Valentino Design Group. In 2013, Ms. Koen co-created B STELLER, a modern jewelry design house, and in 2015 she was named a Dallas Culture Map’s Stylemaker Winner.

In 2016 Mr. and Ms. Koen founded The Box Company, which has become known in Dallas for both its contemporary art space and its art services company. From 2016 to 2018, they mounted exhibitions by local and international artists in their uniquely restored gallery space in South Dallas. The exhibition space, affectionately known as “big box,” was a pristine 14-foot-tall white cube housed within a large warehouse space.

Artists Ludwig Schwartz, Herman Nitsch, Teresa Margolles, Nic Mathis, Julie Libersat, Francisco Moreno, Luke Harnden, John Wilcox, and Paul Winker have shown work in this former box manufacturing warehouse, which has been owned by the Koen family since the 1960s. One notable project undertaken at The Box Company was the Dallas Biennial. Curated by Michael Mazurek and Jesse Morgan Barnett, DB16 opened on New Year’s Eve of 2016 featuring the work of Viennese artist Herman Nitsch and Mexico’s Theresa Margolles.

Today, The Box Company specializes in installation, transportation, and storage of art for museums, galleries, and private collections. Ms. Koen was integral to all aspects of the business, including installation, management and transportation of artwork for institutions and galleries.

Ms. Koen was known for her style, humor, creativity, and most of all the infectious joy she would bring to any room. With acquaintances in every circle of the art world, Ms. Koen was a loyal friend and fierce supporter of artists. Her sense of aesthetics, coupled with her social connectivity helped make Ms. Koen a cornerstone of the Dallas art world.

Erin Cluley of Erin Cluley Gallery told Glasstire, “Our Dallas art family is missing a bright, happy light. We will forever remember Nancy’s laugh, style, her passion for what she believed in, and her keen ability to have a good time.”

When we reached out to Barry Whistler of Barry Whistler Gallery, he noted: “I first worked with Nancy in 2017 when she and Jason opened The Box Company Exhibition Space on Coombs Street in Dallas. Her kindness and steadiness were evident immediately. Nancy became my number one contact at The Box Company. She coordinated installations and deliveries with ease. I would look forward to talking to her, her kindness and caring manner became a highlight of the day. Nancy always wore a fuchsia-colored tape measurer, it was her installation signature. I asked her once about it and she replied ‘No one is going to steal this one!’ Nancy stole our hearts and love. She is deeply missed.”

Artist Francisco Moreno remarked, “Nancy was an incredible ray of positive energy. She always made me feel like family. I’m so grateful to have had her as a friend.”

Ms. Koen will be missed tremendously by her colleagues, friends and family. She is survived by her husband Jason; her sons Zion and Jason; her mother Nancy Martin Guice; brothers Frank “Pepper” C. Martin Jr. (Penny) and Miles Martin; sisters Karen Martin Larson and Pam Martin Batman (Kent); stepsister Soni Buckalew; stepbrother John Guice Jr; mother-in-law and father-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Ron Koen; aunt and uncle James Wray and Shirley Bush, uncle Richard Martin and aunt Jane Martin Gregory.

A public memorial will be held at Dallas Contemporary on Saturday, April 30 at 2 pm.⁴

     Rhonda Michaela Martin is the daughter of Jackie Edward Martin and Sallie Rose Carrington.¹

     Sarah Martin married George H. Milliken Jr., son of George H. Milliken Sr. and Agness West, before 1833.¹

     Aaron Martinez married Jordan Nicole Locke, daughter of Bradley Lloyd Locke and Shelly Wynn Morrow, on 19 August 2013.¹

     Ignacia Martinez was born on 31 July 1888 at Spain.¹ She married Anthony Soto circa 1907 at Mexico.²

     Jaxen Xander Martinez is the son of Aaron Martinez and Jordan Nicole Locke.¹

     Karter Jo Martinez is the daughter of Aaron Martinez and Jordan Nicole Locke.¹

     Nickie Martinez was born on 14 March 1932 at Hearne, Robertson County, Texas.^2,3 She married Rosalio Camacho Sr., son of Vicente Camacho and Rosa Ojeda, on 23 April 1955 at Dallas County, Texas.¹ She died on 29 October 2006 at Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, at age 74.^2,3

CAMACHO, NICKIE M. 74

CAMACHO, NICKIE M. 74, passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2006. She was born in Hearne, Texas on March 14, 1932. She is survived by 5 Children: Rosalio Camacho Jr., Irene Esquivel, Pete Camacho, Rosita Camacho, and Roy Camacho, along with 13 Grand Children and 13 Great Grand Children. She is also survived by her Brother and Sisters, Benjamin Martinez, Frances Sifuentes, Mary Vela, Guadalupe Rosales longtime companion Mario Reyes Acosta. Funeral Services will be held at Grove Hill Funeral Home 3920 Samuell Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75229. (214) 388-8887. Viewing will begin at 4p.m. Friday, November 3, 2006, with family receiving friends from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 10:00 am. There will be no graveside service at the request of the family after the Funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Basilicia of Our Lady de Juan de Valle, P.O. Box 787, San Juan, Texas 78589 for Nickie M. Camacho., Dignity Memorial Grove Hill 3920 Samuell Blvd. Dallas (214) 388-8887 OB6 Obituaries, Notices.³

     Reyes Martinez married Hilda Marquez on 6 October 2021 at Texas.¹

     Clara Blanche Mason was born on 5 September 1891 at Indiana.^3,4 She was the daughter of David Mason and Alta Smith.⁴ She married Charles Owen Boles, son of Wesley W. Boles and Rachael Elizabeth Holden, on 12 June 1909 at Spencer, Owen County, Indiana.^1,4 She and Charles Owen Boles lived in 1913 at Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. She and Charles Owen Boles were divorced between 1920 and 1930 at Indiana.⁵ She married Jack Voss after 1930 at Indiana.⁵