Gordon Ray Martin

Gordon Ray Martin was born in Ash Flat, Arkansas, December 20, 1926, to Sam and Orcie Martin and died on June 26, 2012, at the age of 85 years, 6 months, and 6 days. He was married to Evelyn Lois Adams on January 20, 1947 and to this union four children were born. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dr. Orvis Guy Martin, of Ash Flat. Ray is survived by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn Martin of Ash Flat; a daughter, Rhonda Martin of Ash Flat; a son, Stephen Martin of Ash Flat; a daughter, Margaret Steed of Ash Flat; and son and his wife, Danny and Jackie Martin of Beebe, Arkansas. He is also survived by ten grandchildren: Mike and Tammy Zeiger, Rob and Vickie Zeiger, and Adam Zeiger of Hardy; Amanda and Troy Thompson and Samantha Martin of Cherokee Village, and Brandie and Brice Brown of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Becky and Rodney Hallmark and T.J. Steed of Ash Flat; and Sarah and Danielle Martin of Beebe, Arkansas. Ray is survived by fifteen great-grandchildren and two great –great grandchildren. Martin served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946 in World War II and always said he went to Germany for his senior trip. He worked in the Veterans Hospital in Poplar Bluff while also selling vitamins and working as an usher and attendant at a movie theater. He moved his family to Little Rock and worked in the VA hospital there while attending barber school. He moved back to Ash Flat and opened a barber shop in 1958. In 1960, he ran for Sheriff and Tax Collector of Sharp County and took office in January 1961. He served as Sheriff and Collector for 18 years. Sheriff Martin solved many crimes and was featured in the Inside Detective Magazine. He and one deputy from the south end of the county kept the peace while Cherokee Village, Hidden Valley, and Ozark Acres grew. After leaving the Sheriff’s office in 1978, he became an agent for the Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control. He sometimes doubled as a babysitter while working and used the grandkids as undercover agents. Once the underage kids bought the beer and cigarettes, he would go back in to the liquor store and confront the owners. During the years Ray and Evelyn have farmed, raised cattle, run a grocery, hardware and furniture store, operated the Hardy Dairy Bar, and owned Martin’s Mobile Home Sales in Hardy. Ray served Sharp County as a Justice of the Peace on the Quorum Court for almost 14 years and performed over a thousand marriage ceremonies. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations or memorials be made to the Arkansas Sheriff Boys and Girls Ranch phone number 870-257-5003 or the Ash Flat Senior Center, 324 Homewood Lane, Ash Flat, AR 72513. A visitation will be held Friday, June 29, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Ash Flat Church of Christ Life Center. Funeral Services will be June 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ash Flat Church of Christ Life Center. A burial service will be held in the Old Baptist Cemetery following the funeral.