Hoyt W. Martin

March 12, 2019

Hoyt W. Martin, 92, of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. He had a peaceful death and was surrounded by his loved ones.

His funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 15, 2019 at Pensacola First Church of the Nazarene, 3475 Pine Forest Rd, Cantonment, FL 32533. The graveside service will follow at Bayview Memorial Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 till 11:00 am at the church prior to the funeral service.

Hoyt was born on January 2, 1927 in Century, Florida and grew up in Jay, Florida. There he learned to work hard, farm, fish and hunt. He drove the Jay School bus at age 16. He excelled in football, but loved sports of every kind. His children and grandchildren have had many laughs over the years as he’s told detailed stories of his childhood calamities and adventures.

Hoyt joined the Merchant Marines and then the Air Force after he graduated from Jay High School. When he returned home from military service, he joined his family in Pensacola, FL and there met and married the love of his life, Ruth Cassady, on September 3, 1950. They had 5 children, Rhonda, Janet, Derrick, Shannon and Doug, who remember their dad as a strong, fun-loving father who led by Christian example and lived to serve others.

Hoyt retired from Civil Service at Eglin AFB after 40 years of service. He worked as an electronics instruments engineer, designing aircraft surveillance equipment, but he could not share anything about the “missions” because of his security clearance. His children would ask about his trip destinations and work, but we always got very vague answers. We did know that he spent time going to Cape Canaveral and Key West because he would always bring back cases of oranges and grapefruit for us. In our eyes, “Daddy” was and always will be a hero.

Our dad was an outdoorsman. He loved the sunshine, grew beautiful vegetable gardens every year and shared produce with friends and neighbors. He enjoyed many conversations with strangers who would stop by to look at his garden. He was also a bee keeper for many years. Of all the outdoor activities Dad shared with us, we all agree that camping at Thanksgiving was the highlight of our year. The children and grandchildren will always have such great memories of “A.J.” (a name given to him by Derrick and Randy Richards) setting up a fabulous campsite which always included a huge fire and our “blue” tent. The tradition of camping at Thanksgiving goes on for our family and for many friends who have shared so many special times together at Cotton Lake with us.

Hoyt was healthy and played sports for almost all of his life. He boxed, played football, baseball, was a runner, coached and played on the Nazarene Church softball team. In his later years, he became a member of the Senior Softball Players Association. He and his brother, Bobby, enjoyed many years playing softball together, sometimes with and sometimes against each other. The Pensacola Senior Softball Association honored the brothers by forming a team called the “Pensacola Martins”. Bobby is still playing on the team. Daddy has developed so many friendships over the years with softball players and we appreciate so much how they have supported him over the years, especially after our mother passed away.

Hoyt was an active member of First Church of the Nazarene where he served as a builder, an usher and greeter for many years. The softball field at the Nazarene church was built and dedicated to him and his good friend, Marlowe Richards. Hoyt influenced many young lives as he quietly taught and lived his Christian values. He was dependable, consistent, respectful and demonstrated an unwavering faith. He was certainly a competitor, a great pitcher and a “place” hitter. Softball continued to be a ministry for him throughout his life.

Hoyt’s faith rested in Christ our Saviour. We know that he is now living with our Lord. We can only picture the wonderful moment when Jesus ushered him into heaven and imagine the beautiful reunion with all his loved ones and friends who have preceded him.

Hoyt is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Cassady Martin; parents, Hoyt Martin and Stella Jernigan Martin; brothers, Benny Ray Martin and Gerald Kenneth Martin.

Hoyt is survived by brother, Robert LeGrande Martin (Charlotte); sisters, Mary Elizabeth Martin and Ramona Faye Bethune (Charles); children, Rhonda Lynn Forest (Joe), Janet Diane Martin, Derrick Craig Martin, Shannon Paige Michaud (Jeff) and Douglas Ryan Martin (Jenne); and many loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, March 15, 2019, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at First Church of the Nazarene, 3475 Pine Forest Road, Cantonment, FL. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Bayview Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Justin Salter, Halston Michaud, Jonathan Summers, Zachary Summers, David Guerny, Eric Hinote, Logan Martin, Brennan Martin and Ashley Summers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Randy Richards, Bill Ryland, Dewayne Cassady, Joe Forest, Joe Brown, Ronald Martin, Glen King, Adam Opava and David R.

Memorials may be made to Music Ministry, First Church of the Nazarene, Cantonment, FL.

Hoyt “fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith.” He is now wearing the crown of righteousness that our Lord promised to him. 2Timothy 4: 7-8

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries