Sterling High School Band 1981-1985

My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

Dear Jeannette and girls,  Sam and I were so sorry to hear of Irby's death. We have a thousand memories of him and your family here in McGehee.  I know he's had his bands play a thousand other pieces but how well do I remember ""Grandioso""  Can still hear Chuck as a little fellow playing like he was the band.  Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.  I just called Evon with the news.  She too was most upset over Irby's death.  Remember her, she is still in so much pain.  I know your family will be a great comfort at this time.  I can't imagine but I do know that at times like these God is at His Best.  With all our love,  Betty Sloan.

Mrs. Martin:

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  While I was not in the McGehee band, I always appreciated the wonderful music your husband was so much a part of.  Just last night several of the Class of 65 were e-mailing back and forth trying to remember the ""real"" words to the McGehee fight song.  (and how can anyone ever forget Grandioso?)  Everyone was talking about the great Irby Martin--not only was he a wonderful band director, he was a wonderful person.  He was our class sponsor and the 1965 McGehee Owl was dedicated to him because we thought so much of him.  My sincere condolences to you and your family.  This is a great loss for all.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Webb Hildebrand

Jeannette and family - I am so sorry for your loss.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Carolyn

Dear Family Of Irby Martin,

My deepest sympathy to you in the death of your beloved family member.  Irby was my band director when I was a senior in McGehee High School and he tried very hard to make a good snare drummer out of me.  He did so much to help us have a good high school band experience, for which I will always be grateful.

Thinking of you,

Frances Henley Nixon

My thoughts and prayers are with you.  I know you will be all right.  I still miss you.

Love,
Mary Jo

Jeannette, Yvette and Donnette, my heart aches for all of you right now.  Irby was such a nice man!  He was always one to greet you with a smile and a good word.  It was good to be called his friend.  Totsy  
I always enjoyed visiting with Irby.  He was the kind of person that once you were his friend you were always his friend and I really appreciate that.  I also know that he had been ill for a long time and I am sure now he feels better.  Much love to the entire family. Hunter

To Mr. Martin's family,   

I am so sorry to get this sad news.  Mr. Martin worked us hard and he was tough, but we all loved him dearly.  We were a team and we were a great band.  It's been 40 years and I still say with pride that I was a member of his band.  Also, that we could march the Warren Lumberjacks off of the field!!!
May God give you peace and comfort now and in the days ahead.  Know that Mr. Martin has left a great legacy and was loved.

Dear Yvette, I'm so sorry to hear of your dad's passing.  The last time I saw him was about ten years ago, at a funeral for a classmate and fellow band-member, and he was so kind.  I was surprised he remembered me, and we had a nice chat.  He was a tough band director, but he loved his job--loved teaching us--and we all knew that ""Mr. Martin"" had our best interests at heart.  

I've thought often about you over the years and would love to catch up.  Please email me when you get a chance, and know that you and your family are in my thoughts *hug*

Irby was a dear friend, my brother's best friend, we all played in the band together. I was also a band director for many years. I am so sorry to read of his passing.  My condolences to his wife and family.

To the family of Irby Martin,

It is with great sorrow that I hear of the passing of an outstanding educator, Irby Martin. I was in the McGehee bands for 8 years and with out question he had a significant impact on my musical learning and appreciation. So many honors and awards received by MHS bands were due in large part to his determination, skills and musical knowledge. The results were the best bands ever in my opinion. May God bless his soul and may he rest in peace.


Jerry Small

I have such fond memories of Irby.  Such a kind (and supportive) gentleman.  Those of us who are teachers (especially of band) are indeed fortunate.  We get to work with the BEST students but ALSO - we have the HONOR of working with such wonderful colleagues.

Irby meant a great deal to me in my pursuit of a career and I am so flattered that he cared.

He'll be missed but he also will not be forgotten - thanks to the vast amount of care and kindness he provided for all of us.

God's blessings and all of our prayers are with his memory and his family.

I met Irby at the Arkansas Tech Band Camp in 1964 and enjoyed many good times with him thru the years. We will all miss his dedication to the profession as well as his personal association with others.  Many, many students and teachers have gained much from his teaching.

Grace and peace to the Martin family.  I have fond memories of Mr. Martin.  He worked us hard and it paid off in the many awards MHS bands received over the years.  A true teacher and friend to many students.  He was the one that changed my name to RayV (from Raymond V) and it has stuck with many over the years.

RayV

Nearly fifty years ago at the age of eleven, I became a member of “the band.”  For the next fifteen years Irby Martin was my teacher, my mentor, and my friend.  Although we lost touch in the 70’s, he continued to exert a profound influence on my life.  After a lifetime career in education, I realize that my classroom is a direct reflection of what I learned from Irby all those many years ago.  Most importantly, I have always demanded excellence because I learned firsthand that self-esteem can be achieved only through success.  Success often meant “winning,” but not always.  Sometimes success came in the form of a heightened awareness—of potential, of possibilities, of all that could be achieved with hard work.  These lessons I learned; these lessons I have passed on.  No tribute is greater—my professional life has been a reflection of his.  If any good has come from my teaching, it belongs to the one who taught me how.  Thank you, Irby.  
God bless you, Jeannette, and all of your family.
With love, respect, and much sympathy,
Vicki Whitaker

Jeannette, Yvette, and Donnette,
After reading the many postings about Irby it has just reaffirmed what I have always told you, ""How could anyone not love Irby Martin?""  He was not my teacher, but I can proudly say he was my friend.  We will miss him enormously.  Our prayers are with all of you at this time.  You are such a wonderful family.  We love you very much.
Marcia and Cloy

I am so glad to have known Mr. Martin.  He encouraged many young musicians, including myself,  even though I was never in his band.  He was a man of character and integrity and I know you will miss him.  Your family is in my prayers.

Irby was a great man and a great band director.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

Ron Stokes

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.

He was always so nice to me at the water exercise class.  We will miss him.

with sadness i read in the gazette about mr. martin. i have many fond memories of him from fayetteville high school band during his tenure. i remember riding with him in his pontiac to arkadelphia to a marching contest he judged and thought how neat it was to go on a trip with a teacher. i learned a lot from him.   
 my condolences to family and friends.

Mr. Martin's band at McGehee High School was without a doubt the best band ever in the history of McGehee. Please accept my sympathy.

Dear Jeannette I was shocked and deeply saddened when I heard of Irby's passing. I had gotten mighty fond of you two over the past six or so years. You had just stopped by friday and said Irby saw my new shop, I'm glad he got to see it. I suppose God has a plan.
                 with love,  
                     Chris

Mr. Martin will forever be missed.  Because of your guidance and wisdom I have a successful career as a High School Band director.  Thanks for all the encouragement that you not only gave me, but all of us from Waxahachie High.  You taught us to ""always give a performance of PRIDE!""  Thanks and enjoy your time in Heaven -- you deserve the rest.  Our prayers go out to your family.

Irby was my husband Dan's best friend when they were growing up.  I've heard so many good things about him and all the good times they had together.    I know he was so good to Dan's Aunt Bess through the years.  I am indeed sorry to hear of his death.  I'm sure he and Dan are together again in a place even better than Booneville, Arkansas. My condolences.

To the Martins:
I am so sorry to hear of Irby's passing. May God comfort you. 
I am so glad that I got to see him this summer after so many years.  His last words to me, in true Irby-fashion were, ""Shelly, I'm glad you got to see me!!""  Yes, Irby, I'm glad I got to see you too.  

Much love, Shelly

I was Denise Haywood.  Mrs. Spears used to babysit me and I played with Donette and Yvette.  I was often at your home and I still think about the times we shared as children.  I was so sorry to hear about your dad.  I still remember when he led ""the original sound of the delta"".  I will pray for you all.  I am married to Mark Day and we live in McGehee we have 3 children the oldest is in his first year of college, our second son is a junior in HS, and our only daughter is in the 7th grade.

I would love to hear from you and again I am sorry for  your loss.  Your Father touched a lot of lives.

Sincerely,
Denise Day

Jeanette,

I am so sorry to hear of Irby's passing.  I will never forget his words of wisdom and his ""gift"" he gave me before I moved from Baytown to Denver.  Boy was he a character.  I will greatly miss him as will many others that his path has crossed.  You and your family are in my thoughts.

Love,
Stacy (McElroy)Nimmo

Jeanette,

Leta told me today of Irby's death. I am so sorry for our loss, but so happy that the two of you were part of my life. My memories of the two of you are dear to me and I've thought of you many times through the years.
Irby infused his calling with nobility--he was the teacher the profession covets. And, in the brief decade our lives were connected, he was a friend who both inspired and encouraged me.
I miss you both.

Charlie

Jeannette,
Please acceept my condolonces for your loss of Irby.I have many wonderful memories of my time in the McGehee band with Irby. He was a great influence on me and always encouraged me to do my best and was always so understanding as I was allocating my time between sports and music. I still sit in the stands at games and watch the bands at half time and think about popping turns, floating boxes and diamonds and the music and how Irby made us strive to be the best. Any time I see the Texas A&M band I think, that's the way Irby made us do it. He was a wonderful teacher and a fine person and he will be missed by many. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Jim Selman

June, I'm so sorry. I loved both you and Irby.  We had a good childhood together and many school memories.  Let me hear from you.
   Joanie

I was sad to hear of Mr. Martin's (I could never call him Irby)death. As others have shared, he greatly influenced my life. I still miss marching and playing in the band. He did teach us so much about life as well as music. I remember my broken heart when your family moved before my Senior year. I wanted just one more year of being in his band! You are in my prayers.

My strongest memory is when I told Mr. Martin that I would have to  miss a practice and he told me not to tell him I couldn't be there, but to ask if I could miss. That taught me a great lesson in people management. 
Paula

We miss you very much and we are praying for you.  It helped us to see Irby as we remember him.  I will always cherish Irby and remember him as my second father and I am so glad he got to be a grandfather for my children.  Irby was very fun to be around and he was very funny at times.  Irby helped us decide what band instruments to play.

Mrs. Martin & family,  
I was sadden to hear about your loss. I enjoyed meeting Yvette's mom last May when she visited Iceland.  It was such a happy time.  Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with Yvette, Steve, and your family.  Gael Coyle, Principal, A.T. Mahan Elementary School, Keflavik, Iceland

June,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother, Irby.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Yvette,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  Your daddy must have been a great man to have helped raise a wonderful, caring person such as yourself.  Be strong and remember, we are here to lean on.
Charlee

Dear Jeannette and family, I've not heard from you since I graduated from high school in 1959 and I never took band.  But once you've grown up in a place like McGehee, you never forget the people who shared ""our hometown"".  I remember only good things about your husband and our great marching band.  I pray that God will give you a peace that goes beyond human understanding.

Yvette,
     You will be in our thoughts and prayers.  I appreciate that your father was a dedicated reader, and love children.  I know he had a good life because he treasured the important things.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, please remember that if you need anything we are all here to help.
Erin Brim

What a wonderful father.  He will be with you forever.  You can always smile in his memory.

Yvette,
Your dad sounds like someone I would love to have known! There are no words that can make this easier for you but know you are supported and have understanding listeners when you return here.  Take care of yourself!
Lillie

Yvette,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
The Sokolowski's

Yvette and family, 

You are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.  May you always remember the happy times you shared with your father and cherish them.  

Love,

Charlie and Scott

My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time of loss. Your father must have been an amazing man who positively affected many, many lifes!

Yvette, Gary and I are thinking about you. Although we never met your dad; he must have been a super person to raise an amazing daughter like you. Your love for him with stay with you forever in your heart. We love you, Debbie and Gary

Yvette, found this great poem to share with you and your family (author unknown) - God Bless, our prayers are with you. 

Safely Home 

I am home in heaven, dear ones;
Oh so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever, 
Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder how I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh, but Jesus' love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And he came himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus' arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's will.

There is still work waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remains,
You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come.

Yvette,

Your must be a lot like your father, since you both love children and teaching.  God bless you and your family.

My sympathies,
Debbie

Our words cannot replace your loss, but we're just writing to let you know that we are all thinking of you.

Nancy and Patrick

Yvette, We were very sorry to hear about your dad.  Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.  Vicki & Ron

You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely, 
The Scifo's

Our prayers are with you. Todd & Peggy Patterson

What a wonderful photographic memory you have posted.  No doubt you have many cherished times with Irby to keep in your hearts.  Our hearts are with your family, and we wish you peacefulness during this time.
Dawn, Simon, & Alex Park

I am sorry about Irby.  I have known him for many years and it goes without saying, he was a fine person.  June, may God bless you and all of the family in your time of sorrow.

I have known Irby since 1955. He certainly was a credit to our profession and was also a fine person.  He will be greatly missed.

We are praying for God's comfort and peace for your family as only He can give at this difficult time.
Love,
George & Sandra Schlinker

As a member of the ""Original Sound of the Delta"" Mr. Martin was a major influence in my life.  It saddened me to hear of his death.  After nearly 35 years I can still hum Grandioso even if I can't play it on the bass clarinet.  I also know every word to the alma mater, but didn't know, until LeAnn told me, that Mr. Martin had written it.  Please know you and your family are in my prayers.

Kathy Edwards Tankersley

June and all of Irby's family, We were so sorry to hear of Irby passing away. Always remember All Things work Together For The Good Of The Lord. God Loves You And We Do Too. You,Jim, and all of Irby's Family will be remembered in our Prayers.

I was sorry to hear about Irby.  I haven't seen him in years, and since we were neighbors when I was growing up, I always considered him a friend, as I did June.  Our prayers are with the family.

AS A FRIEND, I AM SORRY TO HEAR OF IRBY'S PASSING AND MAY GOD FILL THE VOID OF EACH HEART WITH HIS LOVE AND GRACE.  JAMES CARROL WELLS

Here in Iceland we are praying for all of you in your family.

Jeannette, Donnette, and Yvette,

We were very sorry to hear of the passing of Irby. However, we rejoice in the legacy that he left in his wonderful daughters, and now grandchildren. You will all continue to be in our prayers.

Love,
Allison Daigle

Sorry to hear about Irby.  I was younger than he but I always remember him being funny and always smiling.  My prayers are with him family.

Jeanette, I hope you received the article I wrote for the McGehee Times.  They did print it.  I was very glad.  It's clear by all of these messages that there are so many of us out there who were touched by Mr. Martin's life.  What a tribute to him.  I've very pleased so many are taking the time to let you know how they felt.  I hope he knew.  I think he did.

We are so sorry to hear of your loss. May your memories help you during this sad time.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.   Brad and Susie

Sentimos mucho la perdida de Irby y les enviamos un fuerte abrazo para toda la familia.
Muchos ánimos.

We are so sorry to hear of Mr. Martin's passing.  He was a wonderful and kind man and he will be greatly missed.

We will miss Irby's smile and sense of humor.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Cindy, Jason and Jeremy

We were so sorry to hear of the passing of Irby.
Joe and Dolores Earp, Terri and Jacquelyn
Glenda Moubry and Boys
Donald and Pansy Fennell and Girls

Many fond memories and a lasting
enjoyment of instrumental music.
Our hearts and prayers are with you
at this time.  The LaFarra Family,
McGehee, Arkansas (Bill, Verle,
Janice, Dolores, and Nancy)

Irby and I were both teaching in northwest Arkansas in 1970.  He was a dear friend and a trusted collegue.  Little did we know that we were teaching at the close of what I consider to be the golden age of school bands.  The landscape was changing for bands in the 70's and the times for the great bands was coming to a close.  Truly I enjoyed and appreciated his professional ability, his character and he was my role model even though we were from the same time.  Best wishes to his family and friends.  Gaylon & Claudette Taylor....Springdale 1970

I am so very sorry to hear of Irby's passing.  He was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed.  My prayers are with you all.

God bless you and keep you in your time of sorrow.

Jeanette, We are so sorry to hear of Irby,s passing. We have such fond memories of working with him and his directing our girls in band at Maggie High. He was truly a good one!
Juanita and Frank-- we are married now--both lost our Bill and Kathryn.

Jeannette, Yvette and Donnette:  Just want you to know I'm thinking about all of you and remembering Mr. Martin (he will always be Mr. Martin to me!) so fondly.  So many of my memories of Baytown are imbedded in those years in band at RSS - and how good Mr. Martin was to me.  Yvette - I still remember taking Geometry with you!  I wish I could be there tomorrow and Thursday - you'll all be in my heart.  My best - Allison (Smith) Mull

To Jeannette and the family of Irby, I express my sincere condolences. I have many fond memories of Irby as my band director at McGehee High. He was a fine, fine man in book. 
Sonny Henley

Dear Jeanette, 
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Martin.  Our Class of 65 just recently had a 40th Class Reunion and many stories and fond memories of Mr. Martin were shared between us.  He made a wonderful and lasting impression on all of us.  His strive for perfection with our band in the 60's of approximately 100 members influenced so many of us to work hard until we got it right. We will never forget ""Grandioso"".  When we think of Mr. Martin, we remember Grandioso"".  He was Grandioso!

My heart goes out to you and your family and pray that God is with each of you during this time of sorrow.

Sue Tubbs Pambianchi

Dear Jeanette,
I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Martin's passing.  He meant a lot to me, got me to do things I didn't know I could do, and instilled pride in all of us.  ""The Pride of the Delta,"" you bet!  We were...and it was because of his leadership.  Besides, I just plain liked him a bunch. And, Jeanette, I enjoyed getting to know you when we took that arts and crafts class together at A&M.  I still have that little basket we wove and you so graciously allowed me to keep. (It's a wonder you could part with such a treasure!)  Again, I am so sorry and my heartfelt condolences go out to you, your girls, and your entire family.

Mr Martin was our band director in McGehee, Ar when we were in school. He said a very honest and friendly person. Sorry to hear about his death. We will keep him and his family in our prayer.

Jeannette,So sorry to hear the sad news. He has touched so many lives. I will always remember my days in the band..an ill sax that blew no good. We had great times thanks to Irby. Sorry to reach you at such a sad moment.  Our lives have all gone astray but remain close in our memories of Mcgehee band.  With all my love.  James Henley,  Class of 62

To the Family of Irby Martin:

I am so sorry to hear of his passing.  I had lost track of him but he was always in my memories of being my band director for the McGehee High School band.  He was the best.  He made us the pride of the south.  We were a special band because of him and we marched with pride and held our heads high.  I will treasure his memory and my thoughts and prayers are with his family a their time of sorrow.

To the family of Irby Martin,

On behalf of my Mother, Beth Williams, my late Father, Paul X Williams, Sr., and our entire family, I express our sincere and heartfelt condolences. Irby lived across the street from us as a child and, upon hearing of his passing, my Mother (who is now 99 years old) recalled many fond memories of him as a youngster, commenting that she and my Dad considered him one of their own.  She also recalls many more recent memories when,  as a adult, Irby stayed in touch with her, remembering the events in her life with cards and visiting her when he was in town.  Truly a very special gentleman, who will not only be missed by his family but by many more whose lives he touched as well.

With thoughts and prayers from Ms. Beth Williams and the entire Williams family.

Dear Martin Family, 
I was a student at Fayetteville High School from 1970-72 and played clarinet.  Thanks to Mr. Martin, I got scholarships and attended Dixie Music Camp each summer.  It allowed me to return to Jonesboro where I had grown up and be with old friends.  I rode back and forth to camp each year with him and remember fondly our talks as we traversed the top of the state, me mostly wanting to keep him awake. He touched many lives and although I did not go on to become a band director, I did end up a better human being having known Mr. Martin.  My deepest sympathies.

Irby was a classmate of Carl's. We were all in the band together during our high school days.
God is Good! Cast all your cares on Him.

Dear Martin Family
I will always have fond memories of ""The Sound of the Delta"" and igm. I have carried the small initials signature that I picked up from him ever since.  Just one of the many things he taught me. Love and prayers,  cgt

Dear Family Members of Irby Martin:
You will receive thousands of responses like mine, telling you how much ""Mr. Martin"" meant to their lives...because he affected so many for the positive.  Yes, he was tough at times...when it called for it...but you could always count on him to put your best interest in teaching you about music..but mainly striving for excellence.  What an example he has been on how to succeed in life.   His legacy will live on and on through the lives he has touched in such a positive way.   THANK YOU, Mr. Martin, the lessons in life you taught me that serve me even today.

My love and respect always to your memory.

Kyla Kolb

Yvette,  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.  God Bless David and Cindy Clark

OBITUARY

Irby Gene Martin

June 6, 1933 – September 9, 2005

Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services

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