Roy Martin

Early Friday morning, January 4, at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler, Roy Martin departed from his life on earth and joined his Heaavenly Father. His final days and hours were spent surrounded by love with his beloved family at his bedside. He was born on November 27, 1940.

In June 2002, Roy retired after devoting many years to his career with Brookshire Grocery Company. Everyone who worked with him, or for him claimed that he was one of the best men they ever knew. He was known for his kindness and honesty.

His Christian service began as a Methodist and continued as a member of Chandler First United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School Class and looked forward each Sunday to the lively discussions and Christian lessons shared with a wide circle of friends.

In 2004, Roy was diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer. He had surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. After learning that the cancer had spread and all available conventional chemos had been tried, he willingly entered into Phase 1 Clinical Trials, testing medicines that had never before been used in humans. His attitude was hopeful that it would help him, but if not, much needed data was being gathered so that some day this terrible disease will be wiped out. Even after some of the chemos tested had dire side effects for him, he eagerly entered into trial after trial.

Upon retirement, Roy and his wife relocated to Chandler where they immediately became active in the God's Open Hands organization. Roy put to good use his many years of grocery experience and devoted himself to helping the local GOH food pantry run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, seeking to help those individuals who found themselves in unfortunate circumstances and in need of food. He took great pride in keeping the shelves stocked and keeping everything, including the empty boxes, organized to utilize their greatest potential. Throughout the many, many weeks of traveling to Houston for chemotherapy, he planned those appointments so that he would be back in Chandler in time for church and then to work at God's Open Hands. He handled many behind the scenes tasks, never seeking credit for the many things he did.

He also worked at the Keep Chandler Beautiful Recycle Center, taking regular shifts there until cancer prevented him from doing so. Even after that, he made sure that all discards from God's Open Hands were recycled properly.

Services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 6 at Chandler First United Methodist Church, under the direction of Chandler Memorial Funeral Home, with Dr. Russ Munch officiating, assisted by Lt. Col. James Griffin, Rev. Linda Pinson, Rev. Bob Nobles and Ken Reid. Interment followed in the Chandler Memorial Cemetery. Sons-in-law and grandsons were pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School class and God's Open Hands volunteers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Martin Sr. and Louise White; his sister, Dolores Baumgartner; his brother, Ronald L. Martin and his mother and father-in-law, Opal and Ralph Chaney

He was a loving husband of 48-1/2 years to his wife Pat. He was Daddy to daughters and sons-in-law, Lee Ann and Phillip Bickham, Janet and Brad Vanderford, and Suzan and Cody Shaw. The pride of his life were his grandchildren Briana Drake and her husband Paul, Tyler Rogers, Kaylee Shaw, Brooke Bickham, Benton Bickham, Bradley Vanderford and Lauren Vanderford. He is also survived by a multitude of friends.

Friends desiring to do so may make memorial contributions to either God's Open Hands, Chandler TX 75758 or to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Drive, Tyler, TX 75701.