John E. Martin

John was the eldest son of Ellis S. and Florence L. (Stone) Martin. He grew up in Springfield with siblings Vena Anderson of Pocatello, Idaho, Fred Martin of Holts Summit and Neva Parrott of West Plains.

John graduated from Central High School in Springfield in 1951. He earned a Bachelor of Science-Agriculture degree from Mizzou in 1955. After graduation, John joined the Army and spent three years deployed in Japan.

Returning to the states, John met the love of his life, Martha Louise (Priest) Martin and married her on February 28, 1959. Together for 62 years, the Lord blessed them with four children: Janell (Jeff) Malizia of Rocheport, Kevin (Anita Ippolito) Martin of Glendale, Arizona, Jeanine (Mark) Oberg of Morrison, and Keith Martin of Columbia. John also enjoyed eight grandchildren: Natalie Bish, Nicole Oberg, Brittany Martin, Lindsay Martin, Erin Weires and Katy Flaspoler, Amber Wilhelm and Heidi Malizia; along with eight great-grandchildren.

John was hired at the University of Missouri-Extension in 1958. John returned to Mizzou to earn a Master of Science-Extension Education degree in 1968. He ended his 36-year career at the University of Missouri-Extension at Columbia in 1993. John and Louise enjoyed raising alpacas at their farm in Ashland for 20 years. John also spent 20 years driving for Enterprise Car Rental.

The family will gather for a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia on Friday, March 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm. Services will be live streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page at Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory, and Memorial Park Cemetery/Columbia.