Gary Lee Martin, 68, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 30, 2015, from his earthly home in Emporia, Kansas. He had spent quality time with his wife, children, and grandchildren in the last few days, weeks, and months, and knew how much they all loved him and would miss him.
Gary was born on July 23, 1946, to Oscar Harris Martin and Leona Marie Price Martin, in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was the second child born of that union, and two more would follow. He also had several half-brothers and sisters, but he never referred to them by the term “half,” it was always “my brother” or “my sister.” He believed that regardless of how you came into family, you were family.
He attended many different schools as the family moved frequently, and he left Emporia High School before graduating but was very proud when he earned his GED. He was also especially proud of his Cherokee heritage, and had his tribal card and was a registered member with voting privileges of the tribe in Oklahoma.
Gary married Shirley Gaede and that union led to two beautiful children, Gary Lynn Martin and Lynnette Kay Travis. Gary and Shirley were divorced, but remained on good terms for the rest of their lives. On Valentine’s Day in 1976, Gary married Teri Katherine Lenigan in Emporia, and that union was blessed with three more beautiful children, Sharae Kayle Crouch, Anson Lee Martin, and Mariel Gwinn Ascencio. All of his children brought joy and happiness to him throughout his life.
Gary was a skilled welder, having worked in many areas that required his skills including pipelines construction at Wolf Creek and exhaust on vehicles. Not only was he an excellent welder, but he was also gifted as a teacher, as Wolf Creek had him teaching welding for the nuclear power plants, and he ran the test shop before a welder could be hired. He also taught others how to weld, including exhaust systems on vehicles, and enjoyed seeing others learn the art and skill of welding. After leaving Wolf Creek, he opened and ran Martin Muffler and Automotive Repair for over 20 years before choosing to let his wife run the shop while he enjoyed his hobbies at home. Gary was a member of the Patriot Guard.
Gary’s number one love of his life was his Lord Jesus Christ, and it was followed closely by his love of family and country. He enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and tending to flowers in the yard, and also loved KU basketball and NASCAR racing. Restoring older cars was a passion he had, and he would share that with anyone who needed his help. He learned woodworking and built several beautiful pieces of furniture with walnut wood being his favorite to work with. He was skilled at fixing and repairing things around the house and was always able to look at a problem and figure out how to solve it.
Gary is survived by his wife, Teri, of the home; a son, Gary, and his wife Mackayla and their children Ashlyn, Madison, and Garrison of Garnett, Kansas; daughter, Lynette Travis of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter, Sharae Crouch and her children, Lenia and Brady of Emporia; daughter, Mariel Ascencio and her husband Abimael and her children Veronica, Anson, and Amy of Burlington, Kansas; brothers, Oscar Richard Martin of Lebo, Kansas, and William (Buddy) Martin of Twin Falls, Idaho; and a sister, Donna Sue Alley of Guthrie, Oklahoma; as well as many nieces and nephews, and too many friends to count.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Harris; and a son, Anson Lee Martin.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at 11:00 A.M. at the 12th Avenue Baptist Church, Emporia. The service will be conducted by Pastor Al Areheart of the church and Pastor Joe Tuttle, Bethel Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Cottonwood Cemetery, west of Emporia.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7:00 until 8:00 P.M., Friday evening, April 3, 2015.
A memorial has been established with the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gary Lee Martin, please visit our flower store.
Gary was born on July 23, 1946, to Oscar Harris Martin and Leona Marie Price Martin, in Twin Falls, Idaho. He was the second child born of that union, and two more would follow. He also had several half-brothers and sisters, but he never referred to them by the term “half,” it was always “my brother” or “my sister.” He believed that regardless of how you came into family, you were family.
He attended many different schools as the family moved frequently, and he left Emporia High School before graduating but was very proud when he earned his GED. He was also especially proud of his Cherokee heritage, and had his tribal card and was a registered member with voting privileges of the tribe in Oklahoma.
Gary married Shirley Gaede and that union led to two beautiful children, Gary Lynn Martin and Lynnette Kay Travis. Gary and Shirley were divorced, but remained on good terms for the rest of their lives. On Valentine’s Day in 1976, Gary married Teri Katherine Lenigan in Emporia, and that union was blessed with three more beautiful children, Sharae Kayle Crouch, Anson Lee Martin, and Mariel Gwinn Ascencio. All of his children brought joy and happiness to him throughout his life.
Gary was a skilled welder, having worked in many areas that required his skills including pipelines construction at Wolf Creek and exhaust on vehicles. Not only was he an excellent welder, but he was also gifted as a teacher, as Wolf Creek had him teaching welding for the nuclear power plants, and he ran the test shop before a welder could be hired. He also taught others how to weld, including exhaust systems on vehicles, and enjoyed seeing others learn the art and skill of welding. After leaving Wolf Creek, he opened and ran Martin Muffler and Automotive Repair for over 20 years before choosing to let his wife run the shop while he enjoyed his hobbies at home. Gary was a member of the Patriot Guard.
Gary’s number one love of his life was his Lord Jesus Christ, and it was followed closely by his love of family and country. He enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and tending to flowers in the yard, and also loved KU basketball and NASCAR racing. Restoring older cars was a passion he had, and he would share that with anyone who needed his help. He learned woodworking and built several beautiful pieces of furniture with walnut wood being his favorite to work with. He was skilled at fixing and repairing things around the house and was always able to look at a problem and figure out how to solve it.
Gary is survived by his wife, Teri, of the home; a son, Gary, and his wife Mackayla and their children Ashlyn, Madison, and Garrison of Garnett, Kansas; daughter, Lynette Travis of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter, Sharae Crouch and her children, Lenia and Brady of Emporia; daughter, Mariel Ascencio and her husband Abimael and her children Veronica, Anson, and Amy of Burlington, Kansas; brothers, Oscar Richard Martin of Lebo, Kansas, and William (Buddy) Martin of Twin Falls, Idaho; and a sister, Donna Sue Alley of Guthrie, Oklahoma; as well as many nieces and nephews, and too many friends to count.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Harris; and a son, Anson Lee Martin.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at 11:00 A.M. at the 12th Avenue Baptist Church, Emporia. The service will be conducted by Pastor Al Areheart of the church and Pastor Joe Tuttle, Bethel Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Cottonwood Cemetery, west of Emporia.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7:00 until 8:00 P.M., Friday evening, April 3, 2015.
A memorial has been established with the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gary Lee Martin, please visit our flower store.
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