John Kenneth Martin

John Kenneth Martin, “Ken”, passed away on May 6, 2021 in the Amarillo VA hospital. He was 85. Ken was born to John Cecil and Tamzenah Willingham Martin, “Jack and Billie”, on Feb 28, 1936 in Galveston, Tx. welcomed by sisters Dorothy and Helen. Ken grew up in Winters, Tx where he graduated high school. He attended some college at Tarlton in Stephenville, Tx. and joined the army in 1959 stationed first in Ft. Carson, Co. then in Ft Knox, Ky. where he met a cute girl at an amusement park. He married Linda Sullivan on November 29, 1959 in Louisville, Ky. They moved first to Seminole, Ok then were transferred to Forgan, Ok in 1962 where they raised daughters Sheryl and Phyllis. He worked for Humble Oil which later became Exxon until his retirement after 30 years with an excellent work record.
In the days when Forgan, Ok joined the 20th century and stopped using rusty burn barrels in the alleys for trash, Ken was one of the first two men to pick up trash for his community on his day off. He also served as police chief while continuing to work his regular job with Exxon. This civic mindedness also led him to become a city board member and later Mayor for the town of Forgan.
Ken enjoyed camping and took his family on countless trips with camp trailer in tow to mostly mountainous areas. He also saw to it that the family experienced motor cycle riding. He and Linda traveled so many places where they saw everything from riverboats to beautiful buildings and landscapes to historic cemeteries.
Ken Martin was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Billie, his sisters Dorothy and Helen, a brother-in-law, Fred, son-in-law, Dennis and many friends. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda of Forgan, brother-in-law Kermit Gebert of Kissimmee, Fl., daughter Cindy Thomas and husband KW of Warner Robbins, Ga., son John Martin of Ardmore, Ok., daughter Sheryl Hall of Liberal, Ks., daughter Phyllis Martin of Enid, Ok., grandchildren Toby, Kaci, Kameron, Lindsey, Trey and wife Valerie, Jennifer and husband Gabe, Shasta, Ashley, eight great grandchildren, two great, great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, a bunch of old motorcycle "fanatics", other friends too numerous to count and of course, his coffee shop buddies and favorite waitresses.