Martin Rufus Golden Jr. has been a devoted father, grandfather, husband and son, a man who found great pleasure in family, friends, his work, and the world around him particularly his view of the Appalachian Mountain chain.
After his birth on June 24, 1923, to Martin Rufus Golden Sr. and Mattie Maude Barker Golden in Farris, Texas, his father was said to have remarked, “This my little cowboy.” After the family returned to Franklin County, Martin was affectionately known to family and friends as “Cowboy.” During World War II Mr. Golden enlisted in the Navy and was serving on the USS New Orleans in the Pacific Theater when the war ended. After returning to Franklin County Mr. Golden married Margaret Lee McBrayer on Dec. 23, 1947, and they made their home in Newburg. Mr. Golden was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church Russellville. Mr. Golden served as a three term, second generation, Franklin County tax collector.
As a fourth-generation cattle farmer of a land-grant farm, Mr. Golden had maintained a closed-herd of Angus for over 60 years and earned the respect of his peers. Mr. Golden was recognized as Franklin County Farm Family of the Year (2012) and Farmer of the Year (1997). Mr. Golden was a member of the Cattleman’s Association and the Newburg Masonic Lodge. Mr. Golden served on the boards of Production Credit, Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and West Lawrence Water Board. Mr. Golden was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 47 years; and his sister, Annie Sue Cooley.
He is survived by his daughters, Patsy Golden McDuffa and Jo Ann Golden Graham and her husband, Michael Graham; three grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Stacey McDuffa Turner, Mountain Brook, Chad and Mary Cole McDuffa, Florence, and Marty and Lacy Jordan Graham, Russellville; five great-grandchildren, Maggie McDuffa, Jane Margaret Turner, Cole McDuffa, Anne Elizabeth Turner, and Hudson Graham; and nieces and nephews, Shelia Dunkle Witt, Billy and Lisa Jackson Witt, Angel Witt Dunston, Steve Cooley, Andrew Cooley, Jacob Cooley, Bill and Susan Cooley Puckett, Katherine Puckett, and Rachel Puckett.
Special thanks to April Chandler, the staff at Helen Keller Memorial Palliative Care Unit, and Pride Senior Care.
Pallbearers are Jimmy Byars, Andy Elkins, Don Garrard, Johnny Little, Tommy Little, and Billy Witt. Honorary pallbearers are Steve Britnell, Justus Cole, David Evette, Joe Gillespie, Terry Graves, Hugh Ray Harbin, Jimmy Dale Seay, Johnny Mack Morrow, and Jack’s Restaurant Breakfast Group.
Visitation for Mr. Golden will be Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, from noon until 3 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home, Russellville. Services will begin at 3 p.m. with Clint Busler and Bo Lloyd officiating. Burial will be in Franklin Memory Gardens, Russellville, Alabama.
Pinkard Funeral Home, Russellville, is directing.
