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© The Chickasha Express-Star Chickasha, Oklahoma Saturday, October 3, 2009 July 22, 1944 ~ October 1, 2009 Funeral services for Derinda Louise Riley Martin, former long time teacher at Pioneer School, will be held at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 6, 2009, in the First Baptist Church. She died on October 1, 2009, at her home in Chickasha after a lengthy battle with cancer. Derinda was born July 22, 1944, in Odessa, Texas, the youngest of four children born to Lucas Owen and Agnes Stella Pierce Riley. She grew up in Odessa and Kermit, Texas, and Farmington, New Mexico, and lived in the Chickasha area most of her adult life. Derinda accepted Christ as an eighth grader and joined Highland Baptist Church in Farmington, New Mexico. For many years now she had been a member of Michigan Avenue Baptist Church in Chickasha. Mrs. Martin began her professional career after graduating from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education. She was then employed in January of 1981 as the teacher for second grade in room one at Pioneer Elementary School where she remained until her retirement in May of 2003, having taught either first, second, or third grade there throughout her career. In 1989 she was named Pioneer Schools Teacher of the Year. In 1990 Derinda was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which she fiercely and actively fought for the rest of her life. Such a task would have consumed many, but she continued doing what she enjoyed most: gardening, cooking, entertaining family and friend, and most of all teaching. She often said that being with and teaching the children at school and, most especially, spending time with her grandchildren "Keeps me going". She also credited her family, co-workers and many friends with helping her remain a positive survivor, but in reality, Derinda was the positive one who helped those close to her deal with what was happening to her. Over and over she refused to give up when she was faced with yet another cancer diagnosis. Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her parents: Luke and Agnes Pierce Riley; maternal grandparents: Tom and Lucinda Swarts Pierce; grandparents: Edward and Dora Stroud Riley; one uncle, Alvin Leroy Pierce; infant brother, Jimmy Riley; and one sister, Patsy Riley Marks. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law: Ryan and Teressa Martin; daughter and son-in-law: Shannon and Darin McCollum, all of Kansas; granddaughters: Taylor, and twins, Riley and Regan Martin; and grandsons: Jacob and Dylan McCollum, all of Kansas; brother and wife, Don and Carolyn Riley, of Houston, Texas; nieces and nephews: Lynn Marks, of Houston, Texas, Emily Davis and Robert Marks, of Amarillo, Texas; Bobby Riley, of Blanchard, Oklahoma; Kay Morton and Cindi Gilmore, of Houston, Texas; and Darrell Riley, of Dallas Texas. She also leaves behind a large circle of friend who were at her side to help give her support and to celebrate victories. In addition she leaves nearly 600 much loved former students who shared one of the most important aspects of her life, and whose lives were turn impacted in the most important and positive ways. Interment will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home. |
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