Mary (Self) Martin
Claude Edward Martin, Sr. was born January 13, 1930, near Dustin, to G.R. and Mary (Self) Martin. He passed from this world into his Heavenly home June 10, 2019 at his home near Dustin.
Claude attended Wetumka and Graham elementary schools, and attended and graduated from Dustin High School in 1947. As a child, he learned about hard work, and he spent the rest of his life as a Farmer/Rancher, doing what he loved. When he was only 9 years old, he drove the mules, hauling the cotton from the farm to the gin at Dustin during harvest time. His love for mules and horses lasted a lifetime.
On June 3rd, 1951, he married Ruth Carol Grover at Driftwood, OK. They made their home at Dustin throughout their entire marriage. In the early years of their marriage, Claude worked for Oklahoma Natural Gas Company and Ruth worked in various offices in Henryetta. At the time, they milked cows before and after work. He also farmed and she did her housewife duties in their “free time”. It wasn’t long, though, until Claude started farming/ranching and milking cows full time. In 1965, he sold the dairy cattle, but continued farming and ranching until 2017, when his health forced him to retire.
Claude and Ruth had three children: Junior, Paula, and Jo. They were always very involved in their kid’s lives, attending rodeos, calf ropings, ballgames and other school activities, as well as attending church at the First Baptist Church in Dustin. All of the kids grew up working on the farm, alongside their Daddy, and Junior followed in Claude’s footsteps making farming and ranching his life’s work.
Claude was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Josephine Longwith and her husband, Ralph Longwith; and one brother Paul Martin.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of the home; one son, Junior and wife, Nickie of Dustin; two daughters, Paula Baker and husband, Larry, of Moore, OK; and Jo Richmond and husband, Walter, of Holdenville, OK; two grandsons, William Richmond and wife, Shelby, of Holdenville, OK; and Jacob Martin of Dustin; four granddaughters, Nikita Adkins and husband, Dean, of Weleetka, OK; Kori Trammell and husband, Trey, of Wewoka; and Kami and Marli Richmond of Holden-ville; one great-grandson, R.J. Richmond of Holdenville; and one great-granddaughter, Karli Page of Henryetta; one nephew John Longwith and wife, Nancy, of Broken Arrow, OK; bonus granddaughter, Reena Page and husband, James, of Henryetta; bonus great-grandchildren, Hannah Shearer and husband, Jonathan, of Glenpool, OK; Rian Page and wife, Julianna, of Henryetta; Claryssa Heneha and husband, Jaston of Henryetta; Luke Page of Henryetta; six bonus great-grandchildren; and many, many friends.
Funeral service will be 2:00 pm today, Thursday, June 13, 2019 at the Dustin First Baptist Church with Rev Bob Fowler officiating and Chaplin John Roberts Assisting. Interment will follow at the Dustin Cemetery under the direction of the Rogers Funeral Home.