Harrell Eugene “Gene” Martin passed from this life on Sunday, December 28th, 2014 in Branson, Missouri from natural causes at the age of 88.
Gene Martin was born on July 3, 1926 in Anson, Texas to Jeffrey Killorine Martin and Willie Murtice (Ashley) Martin. During the Great Depression they moved to Bakersfield, California where his father worked in the oilfields. While in Bakersfield, Gene met a lovely young lady by the name of Lois Georgene Cox at church. After serving in the Army in the Philippines he returned to Bakersfield where they were united in Holy Matrimony on February 2, 1947.
To this union were born three daughters, Teresa, Gerene (Renie), and Beverly. In 1955 they moved to Oklahoma and made their home in Enid for 35 years. They were faithful members of Garriott Road Church of Christ where Gene was a deacon for many years.
Gene owned and operated Martin’s Rat Hole Drilling for 53 years. Rat Hole drilling was his passion and he pioneered the portable rat hole drilling rig operation in Oklahoma with branch offices in Texas and Mississippi. His three main offices were in Enid, Watonga, and Woodward, Oklahoma where he owned 9 rigs and employed 35 people during the oil boom of the 60’s,70’s and 80’s.
In 1989 Gene and Georgene semi-retired to their country retreat southwest of Watonga, affectionately known as “The Pond”. They became members of the Watonga Church of Christ during this time. Georgene passed away in 1994.
On December 6, 2000 Gene married Virginia Nicholson and they made their home in Wewoka where they were members of the Wewoka Church of Christ. Because of health related issues Gene moved to Branson in 2012 to be cared for by his daughters.
Gene was a very generous, loving man of faith and humor. He loved his God, his family, and his business. He loved playing the domino game “42” and telling a good joke. He was the best father, grandfather and friend anyone could ask for.
Gene is survived by his wife, Virginia of Broken Arrow, OK, three daughters, five grand-children, fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild: Teresa (Martin) DeVisser of Branson, MO and her family Lisa (Weyerts) Pogue and her children: Ashley McGhee & her son Carter, Tanner McGhee & Austin McGhee of New Braunfels, TX, and Case and Hillary DeVisser and their children Kate and Livy of Harrisburg, IL. Gerene “Renie” (Martin) Jordan of Branson, MO and her family: Angie (Hatfield) Koechel and Keith and their children Kalin & Hayden of Enid; Jennifer (Hatfield) Teague and Andy and their children Tyson, Garrett, Kobe and Camden of Kansas, OK; Jeff Hatfield and his children Emma and Katie of Enid; Beverly (Martin) Glaze and Terrell (whom he claimed as his own son) of Enid, OK; step-daughter Marcia (Nicholson) Henderson and Don and their sons Chris and Jeff of Broken Arrow, OK., and step-son Curt Nicholson of Texas, and many other wonderful family members. He was preceded in death by his wife Georgene, his parents, six brothers, one sister, and two great-grandsons.
Services will be held Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at10:00 am at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson, Missouri and on Friday, January 2, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home in Enid, Oklahoma. Family visiting hours will be January 1, 2015 from 5:00-6:00 pm.