William Martin

Mr. Martin, age 67, died Friday, March 10, 2006 at the Fort Meade Veteran?s Center in Sturgis, South Dakotaafter acourageous battle with cancer.William Edward Martin, known to his family and friends as Bill, was born on April 30, 1938 in Spiro,Oklahoma the son of Gusona and Velva (Flaherty) Martin. Bill was raised and educated in Spiro, graduating from Spiro Public High School in 1956. Immediately following graduation Bill entered the service, he completed Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base and went overseas from there. He met Mary O? Reilly in Dublin Ireland and they married in Dublin on September 26, 1959. The couple returned to Sherman, Texas where they started their family. Upon his honorable discharge, Bill moved his family to Stigler, Oklahoma. Bill worked for Kerr McGee doing underground coal mining until hecame to Wyoming in 1971 after taking a job with the United Mine Workers of America. Bill andhis family have since lived in Gillette. Bill worked in construction for over twenty-five years, retiring from Hladky Construction in 2000. Bill loved being involved with the local youth organization in the community. This was reflected by his thirty-four year involvement with Little League with included coaching, umpiringmany tournaments and local league games, serving as a local president and the assistant district administrator for the state Little League Association. He was also involved in the Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball programs. Bill was instrumental in the organization of Gillette Take Down Wrestling Club now known as Touch of Gold. His unselfish commitment to volunteerism in the community especially to the benefit of children was acknowledged in 1997 when he was awarded the Wyoming Little League Volunteer of the Year and also when they named the Bill Martin Fieldat theLittle League complex atDalbey Memorial Park after him. Bill enjoyed fishing anytime and anywhere he could as well as watching baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves.Bill is survived by his wife of forty-six years, Mary; 3 daughters: Billie Cochran and her husband Beaux, Dawn Gatlin and her husband Marty all of Gillette and Julie Goffigan and her husband Walter of Manhattan, Kansas; one son, Patrick Martin and his wife Katrina of Gillette; twelve grandchildren: Kellen Gatlin and his wife Tara, Tyler Gatlin, Sydney Gatlin, Scott George, Ryan Goffigan, Joshua Goffigan, Alyssa Goffigan, Spencer Goffigan, Skye Martin, Kenyan Martin, Devyn Kipp, and Keara Martin; 2 sisters: Lela Duke of Spiro, Oklahoma, Deloris Jobe of Westcliffe, Colorado and one brother, Fred Martin of Pocasset, Oklahoma. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers: Gus Jr. and Henry Eugene and 1 niece Michelle Duke.Memorials and condolences can be sent in Bill?s name c/o Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th St., Gillette, Wy 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonandsons.com .