Vernon Ray Martin

Shawnee resident Vernon Martin, 89, passed away Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at his home.The family will be at Walker Funeral Service on Friday from 5pm to 7pm to receive friends.  Services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, March 3, 2018 at University Baptist Church with Rev. Glen Pence officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Vernon was born near McLoud, OK on July 5, 1928 to Curtis and Thelma (Safrit) Martin. Vernon met his wife and best friend of 69 years when he was walking to church and his future father-in-law stopped and offered him a ride. Vernon married Cleta (Smith) on June 13, 1948 in her parents’ home. Vernon graduated Shawnee High School in 1946. He was a member of University Baptist Church since 1948 where he served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher. Vernon worked several jobs before opening Martin Grocery and Meat Processing in 1956 to 1980. He provided fresh ground beef and chicken fry to many customers including Biscuit Hill, Benton’s Café, Brown Derby, and Hamburger King. Vernon always had something to fix, a garden to plant and a hand to lend. He also enjoyed helping his son install swimming pools. Vernon had a great sense of humor. He was known to remember every joke he ever heard, or even the ones he told out of the Reader’s Digest. He would always have your full attention listening to a story, until the very end when you realized it was a JOKE the whole time. Vernon and Cleta loved to travel and see new things. They traveled and vacationed in 48 states, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.Vernon was preceded in death by his parents Curtis and Thelma Martin, and sister-in-law Blanche Martin, and nephew Roger Martin. He is survived by his wife Cleta of 69 years, a daughter, Beverly and husband Bill Smith of Prague, a son, James Martin and wife Teresa of Shawnee, 4 grandchildren, Summer and husband Brian Yort, Jaime and husband Matt Reynolds, Tara and husband John Martin, Logan and wife Carolann Martin, 5 great-grandchildren, Jaxson Reynolds, Makenzie Yort, Max Reynolds, Langston Yort, Connor Martin, and Everly Mae Martin due in March. Step grandchildren, Steven Stone, Richard Stone and Earl Stone and families all of Paden. Brothers Jack Martin and Carl Martin and his wife Pat. Vernon is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and many friends. The family would like to thank all who cared for Vernon the past year, Heartland Hospice, Colonial Estates, Rose Manor, and St. Anthony Hospital, plus the aids and nurses who cared for him at home.