Nancy Joy Martin

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Nancy Joy Martin (Stubbs) on August 27, 2025, at the age of 86. A beloved wife, mother, Gran, sister, and friend, she will be deeply missed. Though her death was sudden, she was surrounded by family in her final moments and went peacefully Home to be with her Lord and Savior.

Nancy was born on September 28, 1938 at home in Montague County, Texas, to George Isham and Clyde Oma Stubbs. She came into the world the youngest of seven children, three boys & four girls, but with such a wide age gap between her and her siblings that she often grew up like an only child. Bright and curious, Nancy stood out in school for her gift in math and was the kind of student that teachers remembered and classmates admired. By her senior year at Bowie High School, she was not only recognized for her intellect but also cherished by her classmates, honored as “Senior Class Favorite” for the way her laughter and kindness made everyone feel seen.

Life was not always easy, as her family had little in the way of money, but Nancy learned to make the most of what she had. Summers spent helping her mother at the fruit stand taught her the value of hard work and serving others with a cheerful heart. Those lessons became a foundation for the way she lived – rooted in quiet strength, generosity, and a spirit of service that touched everyone around her.

After her graduation in 1957, she moved to Oklahoma City to live with her brother JT and quickly became more like a big sister than an aunt to his daughters, Phyllis and Paula, forming bonds that would last a lifetime. She began working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a service order writer, a job that gave her independence and pride, and she approached it with the same determination she had shown in school—sharp, reliable, and eager to help others.

Life in the city soon brought new friendships and roommates. One of her roommates was cousins with a young man named Steve Martin — not the actor, but the one who would change the course of her life. What began as chance quickly grew into love, and the two were married on June 4, 1960, in Oklahoma City. Their honeymoon was spent at Steve’s college national championship golf tournament in Bemidji, Minnesota, a fitting start to a marriage built on teamwork, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion. Though she never had the opportunity to attend college herself, she worked faithfully to financially support Steve as he completed his degree, believing in his future just as deeply as he believed in her steadfast love.

Not long after settling into married life, their home was blessed with two daughters, Diane in 1961 and Tracy in 1963. Nancy poured her whole heart into motherhood, raising her girls with love, faith, and the steady example of quiet strength, humor, and hard work. She was always present—leading Girl Scouts, sewing their clothes, and volunteering at school—and when they reached middle school, she returned to work to help save for their college education, all while never missing a performance, game, or special event. Home was always a place of comfort, where she and Steve welcomed others in need and extended hospitality with a servant’s heart. Even after her daughters left for college, she remained their greatest encourager, cheering them on at Oklahoma State University and beyond. Wherever life took them, her family knew that faith and love would always come first.

As her daughters grew into adulthood, her heart expanded even further with the addition of two sons-in-law and the arrival of seven grandchildren, two boys and five girls who affectionately called her ‘Gran’. Gran and Papa’s house, set on ten acres in Oklahoma City, was a sacred place to their grandchildren where imaginations could run free. It brimmed with life on summer breaks and holidays as they rode horses and fished in the pond, celebrated family reunions that became cherished traditions, frequented the OKC zoo, and embraced the simple, meaningful rhythms of country life. I-35 became a well-worn path, and they never missed an opportunity to drive to Dallas to attend grandkids’ special events and cheer them on from the sidelines.

As their grandkids began building families of their own, adding four grandsons-in-law and six great-grandchildren, she finally convinced Papa to make the long-protested move to Dallas to be closer to their growing family. It was a wonderful new chapter doing daily life with their loved ones. They attended great grandchildren’s school programs and birthday parties, babysat them and extended the legacy of Gran and Papa’s house, enjoyed guys’ golf days and girls’ nights, and hosted regular family dinners.

Lastly, Nancy was a passionate and faithful follower of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She and Steve first became members of Capitol Hill Church of Christ in 1961 and later attended Moore Church of Christ when the congregations merged. With their move to Dallas, they joined Valley Parkway Church of Christ, where Nancy continued to live out her faith with quiet devotion. In both places, she made deep, lasting friendships and demonstrated the serving, selfless love of Jesus by faithfully caring for those who were sick or hospitalized, hosting visiting preachers, opening her home for church gatherings, and greeting everyone with a smile and warm welcome. Her faith was not only professed but practiced daily, leaving a lasting example of love and service.

To say that Nancy will be missed is an understatement. Her presence filled the lives of her family and friends in ways that will never be forgotten. We will see her in the warmth of a welcoming smile, in the laughter of her children and grandchildren, in the comfort of a home filled with love, and in the quiet acts of service that reflect her heart for others. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy of faith, devotion, and joy remains, and we hold to the promise that one day we will be reunited with her in the presence of our Lord.

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband, Stephen Dale Martin; her daughter, Tracy Lynn Orten and husband, Steve; her beloved grandchildren, Matt Callison, Katie Sansom and husband, Collin, Abby Riven and husband, Jevin, Emily Young and husband, Brandon, Hallie Callison, Callie Bartol and husband, Brett, and Garrett Orten; and her precious great-grandchildren, Henley Callison, Hudson Callison, Beckett Sansom, Goldie Sansom, Shepherd Sansom, and EmmyLou Young. She is also survived by many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, extended family, and cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, George, Charles, and JT; her sisters, Vera, Beth, and Pat; and her daughter, Stephanie Diane Callison.

A Visitation will be held Friday, September 5th, from 4-8 o’clock in the evening at Laurel Land Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Dallas, TX. The Celebration of Nancy’s Life will take place Saturday, September 6th, at 11 o’clock in the morning at Valley Parkway Church of Christ. Reception to follow. The Interment will take place at Laurel Land Memorial Park following the reception at approximately 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

If you would like to send flowers, the family asks that you would direct all deliveries to Laurel Land Funeral Home & Memorial Park.