Larry “Coach” Martin, 66, of Andrews passed away on Friday, October 14, 2016 in Andrews.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life at 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at Calvary Baptist Church, 901 NE 4th Place, in Andrews with Andy Ervin, Coach Joe Ray Halsey, and Coach Robert Zamora speaking, and Bro. Mike Henson officiating. Interment will follow in the Andrews Old Cemetery under the personal care of McNett Funeral Home in Andrews. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6 – 8 PM at the funeral home. Please celebrate his life by visiting www.mcnettfuneralhome.com.
Larry was born on June 29, 1950 in Chillicothe, Missouri to Lawrence Larue Martin and Grace Marie Smith Martin. He was raised in Andrews and graduated from Andrews High School in 1968. He received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Houston, or as he said, he received his degree in “underwater basket weaving”. Larry played both baseball and football at U of H as a catcher and a kicker. He led the team his junior and senior years in both homeruns and RBIs. After graduation, he coached and taught school at South San Antonio High School from 1972 – 1981. Then he and his first wife, Toni, chose to move back to Andrews to raise their kids in the same town where they grew up, and Larry went to work for Mobil Oil from 1981-1988. He then worked as the director of the Andrews County Youth Recreation Center from 1988 – 2000 and then for Key Energy Safety from 2000 until his retirement. He married Stephanie Lynd Boynton on January 1, 1996 in Andrews. He coached youth sports and high school sports for over 40 years. His love for the game of baseball was very evident, and he knew the game and loved to coach the fundamentals of the game. When encouraged to give lessons as an additional source of income, he said he would never charge for something he learned for free!! He was very proud of his 1986 Babe Ruth World Series team, that beat the legendary “Ben McDonald” in the regionals with 2 outs by playing fundamentals and small ball. His proudest accomplishment was watching his own kids play, succeed in their own lives from the skills they had learned, and most importantly that they’d all accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior!! Larry worked a couple of Kairos Prison Ministries, was proud of attending his Walk to Emmaus, and was extremely proud of the trip his sons and friends took to Guatemala, where they drilled a water well in memory of his good friend, Larry Dupler. Larry was a pilot, and enjoyed flying with his sons. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. His only regret would have been that he did not live long enough to cast his vote for Donald Trump!
Larry is survived by his wife, Stephanie Martin of Andrews, 5 children, Larry Smith Martin, Jr. and wife, Whitney, of San Angelo, Lance Larue Martin of Pagosa Springs, CO, C.J. Hernandez and wife, Ana, of Andrews, Jordan Mendoza and husband, Stacy, of Andrews, and Braden Martin of Andrews, brother, Jimmy Martin and wife, Gail, of Andrews, sister, Cheryl Martin Turner and husband, Hulon, of Huntsville, TX, 3 grandchildren, Kaden and Jase Mendoza, and John Luke Hernandez, several nephews and nieces, including Jamie “James Dog” Martin, and too many to count baseball players along the way. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Jennifer, and Larry Jr., Lance & Jennifer’s mother, Toni Brown Martin.
Memorials may be sent to Larry Martin Memorial Baseball Scholarship Fund at http://www.youcaring.com, which will be given to a graduating Andrews High School Baseball Player. Please click on link below or mail checks to Andrews Booster Club, PO 565, Andrews, Texas 79714.
To Donate to Larry Martin Memorial Baseball Scholarship Fund please Click On This Link
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