Jerry Bozeman Martin

A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17 at 10:00 AM at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors. Burial will follow at Martinsville Cemetery in Martinsville, Texas. Friends and family are invited to visitation on Monday, November 16, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

When you think about Jerry Martin you automatically think about sports, all kinds of sports. Since the time he won a National contest at the age of 10, “Why I love Baseball”, he has never been the same. He played sports in his early years, then in high school at Nacogdoches High and until graduation at Sam Houston High School. Jerry joined the United States Navy when his was 19 years old and served on the USS Illusive (a minesweeper that was with the first U.S. naval fleet to sail into Saigon during the Vietnam War). He served for 4 years.

Shortly after he returned, he met Miss Erma Ruth Mayhew. They married and started their family together in South Pasadena, California. Jerry worked as an electrician for Edison Electric, Texas Foundry and for Penrod Drilling Company in the North Sea. He was a Member of the Woden Baptist Church and Homer Mason Lodge #254 in Huntington, Texas. In 1969, he moved his family to East Texas and in 1992 purchased a farm where he enjoyed raising cattle and driving his grandkids around on his tractor.

To his grandchildren, he was affectionately known as “OPA” and they will miss him dearly. “OPA” taught his sons to enjoy sports and that resulted in helping his grandchildren enjoy sports. His favorite thing to do was to watch his kids and grandkids play ball and would go anywhere to do so. His loving wife Ruth and his grandkids were the apple of his eye.

Jerry was a good father, hard worker and good provider for his family. Jerry had a good heart. He could tell jokes and had a quick wit that made people laugh. When Jerry had any free time you could find him reading, working in the yard or watching a sporting event on TV or in person. Jerry was a man who loved God and country and will be remembered by is family as someone who loved them very much.

Mr. Martin is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Donnie C. Martin; sisters, Faye Freshour, Lamor Rodgers and Stephen Squire.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Erma Ruth Martin; sons, Tim Martin and wife Sharon, Tom Martin, Mitch Martin; grandchildren, Ashley Martin, Savannah Martin, Blake Martin; sisters, Lucy Kirk, Erna Porter and husband Elvin, Jennie Dianne Kennedy and husband Mike; sister-in-law, Mabel Martin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations:

Wounded Warrior Project

P.O. Box 758517

Topeka, Kansas 66675 or

Nacogdoches Youth Softball Association (NYSA)

4321 Lady Elaine

Nacogdoches, Texas 75965 or

Southwestern Christian School Booster Club (SCS)

PO Box 34417

Ft. Worth, Texas 76162