Obituary of John Harold Martin

John Harold Martin, age 87, of Mt. Vernon, passed away Sunday, March 10, 2019, at Titus Regional Medical Center. John was born September 13, 1931, in Mt. Vernon to John Lester Martin and Mary Ellon Seay Martin.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the occupation of Germany, the Cold War, and was mobilized with the 49th Armored Division for the Berlin Crisis. John received his bachelor and master’s degrees from East Texas State University in Commerce. A career civil servant with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and later with the Pesticides Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.

John enjoyed deep sea fishing with his brother-in-law Norman Sampson, bird watching, singing in church choirs, farming, gardening and reading. He was a former treasurer of Cypress Springs Special Utility District and a water board member for many years. John was active in his church, serving as a Deacon and loved his wife, daughter and son-in-law, friends and family very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father Sam Draper, his brother, Raymond Martin and his sister, Wanda Nell Clinton.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Jane Martin of Mt. Vernon; his daughter, Sandra Jane Olinger and husband Mark of Mt Vernon; his brother, Kent Draper and wife, Betty of California and his nephew, Kim Martin of Ft. Worth.

Funeral service for John will be Friday, March 15, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Mount Vernon at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home from 6 - 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Baptist Church Mount Vernon, Texas or the First United Methodist Church Mount Vernon, Texas, choir funds.