Obit of retired Associate District Judge Billy Lee Martin - Okmulgee County, Oklahoma ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted to: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okmulgee/okmulgee.html Submitted to: http://www.rootsweb.com/~okokmulg/ Compiled, Transcribed & Submitted: Shelley Lynch ========================================================================== Long-time Okmulgee resident and retired Associate District Judge Billy Lee Martin passed from this life on Monday, December 18, 2006 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 81 years, 8 months and 3 days. Billy Lee Martin was born on April 15, 1925 in Wetumka, Oklahoma to Fred Martin and Della V. (Hahn) Martin. He grew up in and around the Okmulgee area. He attended Morris Public Schools and graduated in 1942 from Morris High School. Several years after his high school graduation, Billy exhibited his keen intellect by passing a series of rigorous tests. These tests enabled him to forego the usual steps necessary for college. Billy entered the Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans. While attending law school in New Orleans, Billy began working for Exxon Oil Company. He worked at Exxon from 1962 through 1978, retiring from Exxon where he was working as the Ad Valorem Tax Assessor. After receiving his Juris Doctorate degree in 1967 from Loyola University School of Law, Billy exhibited a unique gift for the law earning entrance to the Bar in three states: Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. Billy served during WWII in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46 working in the Construction Batallion, known as the Navy Seabees. He later served during the Korean conflict in the US Army for several years. Billy returned to Oklahoma in 1978 and entered private law practice, where he remained a practicing attorney for 10 years. He later served 12 years as Associate District Judge in Okmulgee, where he was respected by his community for his exceptional service and compassion. Billy served his community faithfully. He served as the Okmulgee County Clerk from 1950 to 1956. He was the Past President of the Okmulgee Rotary Club, and was a long-time member and the Past President of Okmulgee Chapter of Gideon’s International. He was a member of the Crosstown Pentecostal Holiness Church and later served in various capacities at the First Christian Church of Henryetta including Chairman of the Board of Directors and as a long-time Sunday School teacher, and was an active member of the Okmulgee County Bar Association. He was a wonderful devoted father and loving husband. Preceding him in death were both his parents; his first wife Mary of 60 years; and 6 brothers and sisters. Billy is survived by his wife, Jean of Okmulgee; 3 daughters, Donna Waddle and her husband Frank of Houston, Texas, Ginger Evans and her husband Walter of Fairview Heights, IL, and Kathy Bradshaw and her husband Dennis of Atlanta, GA; 2 step-sons, Raymond Piergallini and Richard Piergallini, both of Tulsa; 2 granddaughters and 1 grandson; 2 step-granddaughters and 2 step-grandsons; and one great grandson; a brother, Burt Martin and his wife Wilma of Henryetta; a sister, Helen Vance and her husband Everett of Stillwater; a cousin, Ewing Martin and his wife Jan of Henryetta; numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family members. Funeral Services are scheduled for Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Christian Church of Henryetta, officiated by Rev. Stephen Haney. Interment will follow at Okmulgee Cemetery under the direction of The family has designated Gideon’s International as appropriate for memorial contributions ========================================================================== Return to Okmulgee County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okmulgee/okmulgee.html