John R Martin

A Graveside Service for John R. Martin, 83, Verden resident will be held 11:00 A.M., Friday, July 24, 2020 in the Lawnvierw Cemetery in Cordell, officiated by Buck Nicholson and David Carley and under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. John Royce Martin was born November 16, 1936 to James Thomas Martin and Maudie (Harper) Martin in Banner, Oklahoma and passed away Monday, July 20, 2020 in the Oklahoma Heart Hospital. John was raised in Rocky and Sentinel and graduated from Sentinel High School. He was an outstanding basketball player. He enlisted into the U.S Air Force in March of 1956. He spent four years active duty and was honorable discharged in May of 1960. He returned to Western Oklahoma and attended Southwestern State College in Weatherford and achieved his teachers and coaching degree. He taught school Pocasset, OK, Deer Creek and a few others before settling in Anadarko, OK. He taught and coached girl’s basketball in Anadarko from 1976 until his retirement in 1994. He had two wonderful ladies in his life, he was married first to Roszella Merkey and they married in 1967 in Cordell, OK. She preceded him in death and he later married Shirley Nance in 1992 in Verden, OK. He was an active member and served as deacon of the Verden First Baptist Church; he enjoyed sports and was an avid fisherman. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Joe and Paul and a sister, Lavene Sharp. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of the home, daughter, Judith Freeman and husband, John, Tuttle, OK; son, James Martin, Tuttle, OK; two step daughters, Robin Eaton and husband Terry, and Shawn Choat and husband, Keith; step son, David Prathers, all of Chickasha; three sisters, Genea Rahhal and Nadine Frazier, both of Cordell and Susan Farris, Mustang. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.