Donald Ray Martin's Obituary
Donald Ray Martin, 83, died Saturday, July 23, 2016, in a Dallas-area hospital, from cardiac complications. He was born February 13, 1933, in Waco, Texas, to Charles Horatio Martin and Dolly Tucker Martin. In 1941, his father moved the family to the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, where Don attended elementary, junior high and high school, graduating from Sunset High School in 1951. Growing up in Oak Cliff, Don attended Calvary Baptist Church, where he and his brother, Bobby, were baptized together with their mother. Following high school, Don enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Corporal and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. On July 27, 1959, Don married Leah Johnell Carlisle. Together, they raised their only daughter, Cheryl, living in Duncanville until 1977 and then in Carrollton through 2007. Don’s career as a salesman was in steel and construction, working at Continental Steel for many years and retiring from The Lofland Steel Company in 1995. He knew the ins and outs of his industry, and many of his customers and clients became his close friends, with whom he participated in many activities. Two community projects of which he was the proudest included the restoration of the Sanger Trophy, now displayed in the Old Red Museum in Downtown Dallas. In addition, his good friends Tony Liscio and Jerry Norton were able to utilize Don’s skills and expertise in the building of the Holiday House through the NFL Retired Players Association Dallas Chapter, as well as the Cedar Hill House of ‘Operation Finally Home” through the Wounded Warrior Project. Over the past few months, Don’s most recent community involvement was on the board of his homeowners association, where he helped design and construct new signage for his condominium complex. Known throughout his life for his wit and sense of humor, Don could recount and was the subject of many great stories. He was a very loyal friend, remaining close to his Oak Cliff buddies throughout his life and formed many close friendships in Carrollton, where they were officially known as the “Alley Rats.” Don loved good food and was a great cook. Whether it was chicken and dumplings, black-eyed peas or his famous oven-baked orange roughy, he loved cooking for friends and family; and none of his recipes were complete without a stick of butter. After the passing of Don’s brother in 2003, he became a surrogate grandfather to his two great-nephews and niece, John Robert, Paul and Rachel, remaining very involved in their lives, following their college studies at Texas A&M, and always discussing their mutual love of fishing, hunting, and guns. Paul telephoned Don often, where they would discuss Paul’s construction studies at Aggieland. While fishing in the gulf in 2007, Don contracted a life-threatening bacteria which resulted in the loss of his left arm. In his remaining nine years, he bravely battled the frustrations associated with losing a limb and worsening pulmonary disease. In spite of these difficulties, Don remained a busy and contributing individual. He found great joy helping Cheryl remodel her home and got a kick out of her many friends who were envious of her inside connections to contractors, plumbers and the like. He always answered the telephone with a big “hello,” lovingly addressing Cheryl and many others with “Hey, Shug” or “Hey, Kid.” In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his wife in 1989, Leah Carlisle Martin, and his brother, Robert Eugene Martin. He is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Anne Martin of Dallas, his sister-in-law, Shirley Patterson Martin of Spring, and his brother-in-law, Craig Carlisle of Trophy Club, as well as a number of nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of good friends. The family will receive friends at the Restland Memorial Chapel on Monday, July 25, 2016, from 6-8 pm. Funeral Services for Mr. Martin will be Tuesday, July 26, 2016, also at the Restland Memorial Chapel. Burial with military honors will be Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at the National Cemetery of Dallas, at 10 am. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the time of service, as all vehicles will be transported to the Committal Pavilion in a procession. In lieu of floral tributes, the family requests memorial donations to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.
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