Mr. Roy Gene Martin, 91, died Friday, February 12, 2021 at Brookdale Senior Living.
A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday, at 1:00 PM at Mount Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Reverend Jimmy Rochelle and Reverend Bob Mullenix officiating. The family will visit with friends at the church Wednesday from 11:00 until the time of the service. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Mr. Martin was born April 20, 1929 in Cord, Arkansas to the late Lee and Grace Martin. He graduated from Cord High School at the age of 16. He played baseball and basketball. Mr. Martin graduated from Bethel College where he excelled in basketball and baseball. There he met the love of his life, Hazel Willoughby, and they married on June 2, 1950. They were married for 70+ years. They moved to Columbia in 1951 where he began his career at Monsanto. He played basketball for the well-known Monsanto team. Mr. Martin retired from Monsanto after 33 years and spent the next 15 years growing large gardens and raising Tennessee walking horses.
Mr. Martin was a life-long Cumberland Presbyterian and served as an elder at Mt. Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church since 1961. Among his many hobbies are: leatherworking, photography, rabbit hunting, woodworking, following the lady Vols and playing the mountain dulcimer. As an older man, he became a prolific poet and song writer. God and family were his strongest priorities.
Survivors include: Wife: Hazel; Daughters: Shirley (Willard) Johnson of Columbia, Kathie Martin of Murfreesboro; Grandsons: Jeff Johnson of Columbia, Joshua (Mallory) Martin of Knoxville; Granddaughters: Tammy (Gary) Greksa of Columbia, Katherine (Adam) Burleson of Summertown, Joanna (Micah) Loyed of Murfreesboro; Great-Grandchildren: Cole Cheek, Paige (Nick) Janowicz, Jake Johnson, Lincoln Burleson, Amelia Burleson, Grayson Loyed and Moira Martin; Great-great Grandchildren: Charlotte Janowicz and Henry Janowicz.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Martin is preceded in death by his Son: Ricky Martin; Sister: Juanita McDaniel; Brothers: Ernest, Lawson and Robert Martin.
Serving as pallbearers will include: Jeff Johnson, Joshua Martin, Gary Greksa, Adam Burleson, Micah Loyed, Cole Cheek, Jake Johnson, Lincoln Burleson and Nick Janowicz.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Mt. Pleasant Cumberland Presbyterian Church. PO Box 689, Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee 38474.
The family would life to express gratitude to Maury Regional Medical Center, Tim Brashears of Avalon Hospice, Jennifer Massey and Meagan Tate of Brookdale Senior Living.
