John Raymond Martin died on Sunday morning, March 4, 2001. He was born on June 10, 1916, in LaPorte, Texas to John Gilbert Martin and Edna Busch Martin. He was preceded in death by his mother in the flu epidemic of 1919, his sister Mila in 1949, his father in 1961, and his brother Edward in 1965.

He was survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Brunson Martin for 55 days until her death on April 28th. Their three children survive them both: Raymond Hance Martin and wife Patsy Littlepage Martin of Baytown, Kathryn Martin Jeter and her husband Robert Dale Jeter of Memphis, TN, and Dr. Matthew Brunson Martin and wife Kendra Ellis Martin of Greensboro, North Carolina. Grandchildren include Laura Jeter Mullins and husband Dave, Julie Jeter Rowan and husband Ben, Robert Jeter,Jr. and wife Vanessa, Mary Jeter, Sarah Martin, Kathleen Martin, Matthew Martin, Jr., and John Martin. Great grandsons are Cooper and Colby Mullins.

After the death of his mother, he came to live with his maternal grandmother in LaPorte where he completed school. He attended Lee College where he met and courted Mary Brunson. Following his graduation from Rice Institute in 1941with a degree in Chemical Engineering, he and Mary were married. Raymond went to work at Humble Oil & Refining Co. in Baytown where he worked for 39 years. He was proudest of the work that he did to improve refining production efficiency in the 40s and 50s. He received several patents for his engineering contributions and completed several assignments for Exxon until his retirement in 1980.

Raymond and Mary raised their family in Baytown and were members of the First Baptist Church. In his early years of retirement, they enjoyed travelling together to visit their children and grandchildren. Since 1990 he has devoted his life and time to caring for Mary in their home as she became afflicted with dementia thought to be Alzheimer's disease. This was ultimately proved to be related to microvascular strokes at the time of her death.

Mary and Raymond were married August 2, 1941 at the home of her sister, Eva Purefoy in Talladega, Alabama

Raymond with grandchildren Kathleen Martin and Mary Jeter

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