A loving and devoted husband, father, and friend, Michael Gene Martin, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 15, 2015 after a very short illness. . Mike Martin was born on September 16, 1946, in Jay, Oklahoma, to the parents of Ray Martin and Mildred Faye Cockrell Martin. Mike Martin lived with his grandparents, Percy Cockrell and Helen Keith Cockrell in Jay, Oklahoma until his graduation from high school. He attended Jay schools. He was a very active child and shared many childhood memories with his elder brother, Sidney Ray Martin. While in Jr. High school, he won first place for the Grand Champion pigs for two consecutive years. During high school, he was active in all sports, and was a valuable member of the Jay High School football and basket ball teams. He was also a great lover of horses; he rode his grandfather's horses and became a bull rider in local and state rodeos. In November 1964, following high school graduation, he entered the U. S. Marines. Mike received several awards and promotions during his tour as a U. S. Marine. His first duty assignment was as an orderly to Capt. Endicott on the USS Hancock stationed off the coast of Viet Nam. While on the ship, he met and spent time with notables such as John Wayne and Raymond Burr. He spent a second ground tour on Viet Nam before meeting the love of his life, Deborah Ann Perdue Martin. While stationed at the Naval Ammunition Dept as security, he met Debi Perdue. They met, fell in love, and were married in a few months. They married on May 30, 1969 in El Reno, Oklahoma. He left for his last 14 month tour in Viet Nam with a CAG ground unit. He saw much action before returning home for his last assignment to Camp Pendleton, California. Mike and Debi lived in California, and in 1971 their first daughter, Stormy Lynn Martin Nickerson was born. Stormy would attend Stonegate Elementary, Hoover Jr. High, and graduate from John Marshall. She participated in history and science fairs and would compete at national and international levels. She was a nominee to West Point and Annapolis; attended and graduated from Baylor University. Upon returning to Oklahoma, Mike attended and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Business Management. He was very proud of military service and had considerable opinions on the subject of amnesty. He enrolled in a speech class, only to participate in a campus debate on this subject with the first chair of the UCO debate team. While in college, he worked evenings at Tinker AFB, in the Industrial Waste Division. Upon graduation, he continued working at Tinker and rose to the position of Manager in the Division; he completed a number of certification courses. He also spent two years in the Naval Reserves in the early 80's. In the late 80's he left Tinker and entered the field of chemical sales. He worked for Bidall, Sywco and others until 2009 when he retired His name sake son, Michael Gene Martin II, was born December 12, 1977 in Oklahoma City. He was so proud of this son and shared special memories during grade school at Stonegate Elementary; Mike coached the baseball team. Michael played football at Summit Jr. High school and was a member of basketball and a member of the golf team at Edmond Santa Fe... Michael played golf at OCU, and graduated from Oklahoma Christian University. Dad was at every sporting event as his # 1 cheerleader. On August 11, 1979, Wendy Leann Martin Mazza was born in Oklahoma City. She also attended Stonegate Elementary, she played T Ball, soccer, and ran track. She took an interest in golf at the age of 12; she was a member of the Jr. Varsity Edmond North Golf Team with brother as the only female and a 7th grader. She was the # 1 golfer for the women's golf team at Santa Fe and played golf for the University of Oklahoma. Mike Martin followed both Michael and Wendy during high school years to tournaments but would often travel to a college tournament for Michael and travel throughout the night to watch Wendy the next day in another state. His love for the game made it easy for his children to play, love the game, and find great successes in tournament play. He is very proud of all his children. We have six grandchildren, Drue Michael Lester age 18, Cameron Leon Lester age 16 , William Michael Martin age 7 , Grace Ann Mazza age 6 , Cade Michael Mazza age 4 , and Ashlyn Kate Martin age 4 . His greatest joy came from his individual and collective relationships with his grandchildren. He began golf instruction with Will and Grace at early ages. Most of them called him "Mike" or sometimes "Grandpa Mike". His time with them included sports, games in the backyard, or sitting his Grandpa Mike's recliner reading or watching children shows. His love, dedication, and commitment to his family was evidenced by 32 years of recovery. He broke the chain of this disease for our children and future generations. He was a strong man and often referred to as "the Man of Nails." In 2009, he became an active member of the Rose Creek Men's Golf Association and would play as many as 7 days a week based on Oklahoma weather conditions and the time of the year. On Saturday evening, 8/8/15, preceding his death, he was named the Lifetime Honorary President of the Rose Creek Men's Golf Association. While a member, he became a friend to so many, including but not limited to; Roy Edwards, Rich DiAngelo, Carry Coker. He competed seriously against the golf course – had six (6) holes in one in his life time of play. He helped Debi with fundraising, facility issues, programming as part of the First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City over the past 10 years and other volunteer and work responsibilities. His life was full of love for his wife, Debi, and their children, Stormy, Michael, and Wendy and his 6 grandchildren. Mike and Debi were married 46 years. He loved life and previous to his death he said, I am at peace and God does not owe me another day. He will be remembered by all who loved and spent time with him. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Percy and Helen Cockrell, his parents, Ray and Mildred Martin, and his brother Sidney Ray Martin. He has one surviving brother, Bradley Keith Martin and his children Sydney Hope, and Bradley of Norman. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Veteran's Corner, P.O. Box 704, Washington, OK 73093. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 A.M. Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at the Vondel Smith North Colonial Chapel, 13125 N. MacArthur Blvd. OKC, OK, with interment to follow at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery, Ft. Gibson, OK, at 2:00 P.M.