Floyd Clarence Martin Jr, age 84, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee went to his heavenly home on Friday, July 14, 2023.
The youngest of five children, Floyd was born September 28, 1938 in Sycamore, MO to Floyd Clarence Martin Sr and Cora Delena (Warren) Martin.
As a teenager, his family moved to St. Louis, MO where he attended Roosevelt High School and was on the state championship swim team. It was in St. Louis Floyd met his future wife, JoAnn, at Tower Grove Baptist Church and they were married May 23, 1959. They had two wonderful children before moving to Tennessee in 1969 where Floyd worked at Genesco for many years before retiring. Floyd loved the Lord deeply and was a member of First Baptist Church Mt. Juliet where he served until his health no longer allowed.
Floyd was an avid duck hunter and often told stories of his wintry morning escapades in the duck blind. He always had duck calls hanging on his banister in his home and his grandchildren have fond memories of blowing away at the duck calls. While they probably scared more ducks than they attracted, he never minded.
Floyd also had a deep love for his roots and was always proud of coming from the Ozarks. He enthralled his grandchildren with stories that seemed larger than life (and sometimes were) of growing up in the country, float trips on the Bryant River, and family reunions at Hodgson Mill. It was a great joy of his to be able to take all of his grandchildren and some of his great-grandchildren to the Ozarks to see the old homeplace. While he lived in Tennessee for most of his life, he was always a Missouri boy at heart.
Floyd was a family man through and through. He loved in word and deed and always had time for his family, no matter how much was going on. He was extremely proud of his two children, loved his son and daughter-in-law as his own, and was the most wonderful Pop.
He had a deep, booming voice full of warmth and love that he used every time he greeted his family and he gave the best hugs. He had infinite patience with his grandchildren, never losing his temper, even when they threw fake strawberries at each other, insisted on ordering triple cheese pizza, and bugged him a million times to take them to the swimming pool.
He did woodworking projects with all the grandsons, teaching valuable lessons about hard work, perseverance, and building to last. He had a great sense of humor and loved to mess with the grandkids, pretending to spit into his hands and then wipe it in their hair. He was a master at removing his thumb before magically reattaching it and to this day none of his grandchildren know how he did it.
Pop loved unconditionally. You knew if you went to his house that you’d be greeted with love and joy just because you were there, not because of anything you had done or accomplished. He and Grandma were a source of stability for all of the grandchildren and going to their house always felt like going home. While he and Grandma will be missed deeply, what a joy it is to know they are both in their forever heavenly home together.
Floyd is preceded in death by his parents, his wife JoAnn, and his siblings Marie England, Tom, Martin, Cleon Martin, and Floetta Shier.
He is survived by his brother-in-law Doug Schier of Delray Beach, FL; two children Doug (Sue Ann) Martin of Port Royal, TN; Sharon (Tim) Spurgeon of Marietta, GA; five grandchildren Kristi (Stephen) Thompson of Clarksville, TN; James (Megan) Martin of Redding, CA; Matthew Martin of Port Royal, TN; Trevor Spurgeon of Marietta, GA; Leah (David) Corts III of Birmingham, AL; four great-grandchildren Annalee Thompson, Emmalynn Thompson, Cameron Martin, Landon Thompson; and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors Friday, July 21 from 7 pm-9 pm and Saturday, July 22 from 12 pm-2 pm at Sellars Funeral Home Mt. Juliet. A service will be held at 2 pm Saturday, July 22 at Sellars Funeral Home Mt. Juliet with Doug Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Juliet Memorial Gardens with David Fallon, Associate Pastor First Baptist Church Mt. Juliet, officiating.
Pallbearers will be James Martin, Matthew Martin, Trevor Spurgeon, Stephen Thompson, David Corts III, and Ron Trowbridge.
Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet has been entrusted with the care of Mr. Martin, Phone: 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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