Kelly Martin was born in 1957, in Borger, Texas to Bobby Wayne Martin and Georgia M. Martin. He was raised in Borger and graduated from Borger High School and then attended OSU in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Kelly married Marcie, his wife of 45 years, in March 1977, in Medford, Oklahoma. As a youth, Kelly raced motocross and then supported his children in the same sport. He worked as a driller and as a mechanic, then owned and operated Poverty Bay Bumper where he fabricated metal components for race cars. The staggering number of balcony and handrails Kelly custom built have left a permanent mark on the architectural landscape of Seattle. He learned mechanic skill from Cecil Hopkins, who with his wife Sarah were like second parents to him. Kelly raised a lot of hell in high school and after with his best friend “Dumb Jon”, a friendship that continued lifelong despite living on opposite sides of the continent. Kelly loved racing and sponsored several sprint/dwarf cars of young drivers. He always enjoyed helping people. Northeast New Mexico was one of Kelly’s favorite places on Earth, and he loved being able to finally live there the last few years of his life. Red River was a lifetime favorite vacation spot. He was a regular part of the breakfast club at the 87 restaurant and could often be found there picking on the waitstaff and other regulars. Of course, on Wednesdays he breakfasted at the Five States Livestock Auction and listened to stories from the old timers. When folks in town saw the beautiful flowers and garden outside the Martin’s house, they would ask Marcie how she did it. Surprising many, those flowers were a Kelly Martin project. In fact, he left several dozen Pinon tree seedlings in the care of his family. His least favorite job was working on a stinky, decrepit fishing boat in Ballard Shipyard, Washington, and his favorite was being a husband to Marcie, all over hell’s half acre. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Kelly was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Kelly was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Ginny Martin Cooper, two brothers, Bobby Wayne Martin, Jr. and Daylon Martin and by one of his dogs, Keisha.
SURVIVORS:
WIFE: Marcella “Marcie” Martin of Triggerfish, FL
DAUGHTER: Jessica Vaughn and her husband Jamin of Orange Crush, FL
SON: Clay Martin and his wife Carrie of Hammerhead Ranch, FL.
SON-IN-LAW: Justin Cooper of Cadillac Beach, FL.
5 GRANDCHILDREN: Ronin Martin, Raiden Martin, Ezmerelda Castillo, Cecilia Lopez and Venecia Lopez of Loggerhead Key, FL.
And by his two feral beast Pomeranians: Joe and Jac.
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I lived up the street in Kelly’s neighborhood in Federal Way, Washington. I visited often when he was working on race cars. He welded up several small projects for me and advised on my purchase of welding equipment. Was always willing to stop whatever he was doing and just chat about anything. Was always so kind and generous. Really missed him when he moved to New Mexico. Bruce Fierke