Ray Martin

Ray Martin, age 67 of The Grove community, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Temple.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Gatesville, with Mike McCarthy and Rev. Stephen Schmidt officiating.  Private interment will be at their family farm in Jonesboro.  Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 23^rd at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Rayford Britt Martin was born on May 6, 1953 in Gatesville, to the late Rayford and Jean Attaway Martin.  He grew up in Jonesboro, graduating from Jonesboro High School in 1971.  He attended Navarro Junior College, until transferring to Tarleton State University, graduating with a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Education.  He married Debbie Pruitt on June 4, 1977.  They resided in Oglesby, until moving to Belton in 1987.  He coached and taught history for Oglesby I.S.D. until beginning a career at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.  While at the university, he coached girls’ volleyball, boys’ assistant basketball coach and was the Dean of Students.  He retired with 31 years of service from Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2018. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gatesville.

Ray had many “Loves” in his life.  His love for his wife and children was unmatched.  The legacy of “always being present” for his family, in all things, is one they all take with them.  He loved music, as his mother taught him to.  He used his beautiful voice, as his testimony of Christ within him.  Only the Lord, knows the people he helped win to the Savior with his voice.  He loved being able to have the opportunity to impact so many through coaching.  You would be hard-pressed to walk through the halls of Oglesby High School or the sidewalks of UMHB, without finding a student whose life he did not touch.  Ray above all else was “Love”.  His passion for the Lord was easily seen in his life.  In the words of his children, he was “the dream”, the dream father, husband, teacher and friend.  The legacy he leaves behind is one that is unmatched.

Ray is survived by his wife of 43 years, Debbie Martin; daughters, Amanda Martin, Kayla Sellers and husband, Kyle; son, Seth Martin; grandchildren, Brendan and Sydney Sellers; sister, Jeanette Dixon and husband, Jackie; nieces and nephews, Jaydie Dixon, Jana Carpenter and Jeb Dixon and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated memorials be directed to the First United Methodist Church, 2600 E. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Compassion International @ https://www.compassion.com/where-most-needed.htm.