William Earl Martin, age 85, of Edgewater, Florida, formerly of Flora, Illinois, passed away at the Ocean View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on July 11, 2013.  

    Mr. Martin was born on February 8, 1928 in Clay County, Illinois, the son of William J. and Grace M. (Hart) Martin. He was raised by his grandparents, Clinton V. and Elsie (Young) Hart of Flora, Illinois.  He married Beverly H. Sires on December 24, 1946 in Louisville, Illinois.  Mr. Martin served in the United States Navy for two years in Washington D.C. as an Industrial Business Machines Operator and served six more years in the Navy Reserves.  He worked a short while at Caterpillar in Peoria, Illinois before working in the oil fields for many years in Texas and Illinois.  He worked as a service station attendant then as a manager of the Liberty Service Station in Flora for 28 years and during this time, he was a self-employed farmer as well. He was a member of the McCabe Baptist Church of Flora.  In 1982, he and his wife moved to Florida where they attended the First Baptist Church of Edgewater and with his wife managed the church’s clothes closet for several years.  He was dedicated to his family and in younger years spent many hours swimming, fishing, and playing basketball with his children. In later years he enjoyed working in his yard, researching his family’s genealogy, and talked about growing up on his grandparents’ farm.  He had an extraordinary memory and enjoyed sharing many humorous and interesting stories about friends and family.

    At the time of his death, survivors included his wife, Beverly Martin of Edgewater, Florida, one son, Barry Martin of Edgewater, Florida, one son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Lee Martin of Decatur, Illinois, one daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and William Herrick of Iola, Illinois, one half-brother John Keller of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma, and three grandchildren, MaShonna Delatte, Sydney Herrick, and Seth Herrick.  He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, step-father (Kenneth Keller), and half-brother (Keith Keller).

    A memorial service for Mr. Martin will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.  The family has asked that memorial donations be made to Oak Street Southern Baptist Church or Alzheimer’s Association and they will be accepted at the funeral home.  An online guest book is available at www.frankandbright.com.