Obituary for Billy Martin

Billy Wayne Martin

February 27, 1944 – October 16, 2024

Billy Wayne Martin, age 80, of Tonkawa, Oklahoma passed away October 16, 2024, with his wife and children by his bedside. Viewing will be Monday, October 21, 2024, from 12:00 – 8:00 PM, at Trout Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Trout Funeral Home in Tonkawa with the Rev. Rob Harris officiating. Billy will be laid to rest at I.O.O.F. Cemetery following the service. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 505 Thunderbird Rd, Tonkawa, OK, 74653.

Billy was born on February 27, 1944 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma to Roy R. and Grace M. (Carney) Martin. He grew up in Three Sands until the age of 18 and moved into Tonkawa and graduated from Tonkawa High School in 1962. Billy fell in love with Susan Vandagriff and on November 16, 1963, they were married at the Baptist Church Chapel in Tonkawa. He worked at the Tonkawa Co-op in his younger years, then Tonkawa Foundry from 1963 to 1968. In 1968 he began working for Williams Rock Bit (Smith Tool) in Tonkawa then moved to the Ponca City plant and worked until he retired in 2009 with 41 years of service.

He had a passion for taking a junk mower, tiller, weed eater, any yard equipment, and making it run. Billy was known around town as the Lawnmower Man. He loved going to the flea market on Sundays and garage sales and bringing home treasures. His love was his grandchildren and his dog, Buddy. When the pick-up moved, Buddy was in the back ready to go. No matter what the weather, Buddy would always ride in the back. Billy was a member of the Tonkawa Bible Church.

Survivors include his wife of the home, Susan Martin; children: Mark Martin and wife Shelly of Tonkawa, Chris Martin and wife Jody of Lamont, Janette Martin of Temple TX, and James Martin and wife Trista of Tonkawa; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren; siblings and spouses: Donald Martin, Barbara Kuehl and husband Darrell; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding in death were his parents Roy and Grace; great granddaughter Nayeli Pando; siblings: Beaulah Moulton, Shirley Holdeman, Jean Martin and Bob, Bob Martin and Billie, Carmen Martin, Velma Wells and Gene, Lois Klusmeyer and Jerry.

Casket bearers will be Chris Martin, James Martin, Casey McAninch, Kemaj Booze, Kaleb Martin and Zevin Esch. Honorary Casket bearers will be Mark Martin, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation, 312 Fountain Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950. We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of Billy at www.troutfunerahome.com

Source: Trout Funeral Home