Martin Oliver Cleveland

Martin Oliver "Buck" Cleveland was born in February of 1926 on his family's farm ten miles north of Cisco, Texas. He was one of eleven boys and one girl born to Ella and Grover Cleveland. He lived and worked on the family farm and attended Cottonwood, a small country school. Upon graduating from Cisco High School, and two days before his 18th birthday, Buck joined the Navy and served his entire military career on the USS Alabama during WWII. When he received his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Cisco and married the love of his life, Patsy Green. At 88 years of age, Buck went to be with his beloved wife, Pat, on June 4, 2014.

After graduating from Texas Christian University in 1950, Buck worked for a short time for the City of Abilene and then thirty-five years for the West Central Texas Municipal Water District. He was named manager in 1981 and helped build Hubbard Lake before retiring in 1995.

He and his wife Pat were founding members of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church where they attended until they moved from Abilene to College Station in 2005.

Buck was part of the greatest generation and lived his life working hard, loving his family and his country. He leaves behind his daughter, Cathy McWhorter of College Station; and his beloved grandchildren, Wes McWhorter and wife, Melinda of New Orleans and their children, Abigail and Arlo, and Laura McWhorter Greenwald and her husband, Mike of Austin and their children, Riley and Garrison. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life - they called him MeBuck and when they were with him, he was always smiling.

He is also survived by two of his brothers, Jesse "Red" Cleveland of Mary Lake, Florida, and Bob Cleveland of Pensacola, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

Cathy says, "Dad was my hero all my life. He was everything a girl could want in a Dad - he was always there for me and always loving and supportive. He treated me like a princess, but he also taught me to throw a baseball, fish, hunt and how to change a flat tire. He listened when I had problems and laughed when I shared something funny - we cried together when we lost my Mom. He was a lovely southern gentleman and his heart was filled with love and kindness - he will remain in my heart and guide me as he always has. Dad would want me to thank all those people who loved and touched his life: his family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and all those people who brought so much joy into his life and helped make him the man he was."

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but loves leaves a memory no one can steal.

A memorial service will be held in Abilene, Texas on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 10:00am in the Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home Chapel of Memories, 542 Hickory Street with Rev. Jack Riddlehoover officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the First Baptist Church of College Station, Texas or to a charity of your choice.