May 21, 1916 ~ April 17, 2015
Duffy Martin, 60 year PGA Member, was born in Faxon, Oklahoma, May 21, 1916, to Jeff and LaVinia Martin, and passed away April 17th, peacefully at his home in Cedar Valley.
He attended Capitol Hill High School until 10th grade when a football injury broke his back. After spending almost a year at Mayo Clinic he took jobs as a lumberjack, in the oil fields and any job that was physically challenging. His entire life was devoted to exercise and staying in shape, which enabled him to have a very full and healthy life until recently.
In 1949, he opened Duffy's Golf Land and soon after he built Brookside. Loving the challenge of golf course construction, Duffy completed Broadmore, then Cedar Valley and Cimarron National Golf Clubs. Cedar Valley R V Park and Par 3 golf course were his last venture.
It forever was his wish that this day not be a day of sadness, but that it be remembered as the time the smiles would outnumber the tears. Duffy had beautiful dreams. He always looked ahead. He always worked tirelessly to make those dreams spring to life. He did things that most men could not imagine. To think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth would be laughable. He was born with something more worthwhile. He was born with the determination to make life better every day. He loved to see people enjoying themselves�even when they had just shanked one into one of his many lakes. He had such pride in the wonderful family he headed. His love for Juanita was unending. His eyes sparkled when he spoke of Claudia, Jeff, Susie and Darla and of their families. He often mentioned how lucky he had been. But luck played no role in this lifetime that was only a short putt away from an entire century. Whether selling newspapers by that old drugstore in packing town, or driving a taxi into parts of town most of us would just as soon not know about, or teaching himself to play golf, or learning how to grow 18 more greens into land others had abandoned, whatever it was, Duffy Martin made sure the job was done the right way. You know who is lucky? We are the lucky ones. Lucky because he picked us to be one of his friends, and to be one of his family. Duffy married Juanita Edwards in 1946 and they had four children.
Duffy is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Juanita in 2005; 5 brothers, Walter, Ray, Lee, Jack and Tom; and 4 sisters; Mae, Grace, Gladys and Christine.
He is survived by his son, Jeff and wife Jeanne; daughters, Claudia Flesner, Susie and husband, Gary Dillard; and Darla and husband Marty Colbert. Eight grandchildren; Jeff and Joey Flesner of Gibsonia, PA; Maxi and Nate Erdmann of Keller, Texas; Bo and Krista Martin, Cedar Valley, Blake Martin and Jennifer Satterfield, Nash and Misti Martin of Crescent; Clint Colbert and D�Ann Altom of Savannah, GA, Maggie and Justin Patterson of Cashion and Maria Brantley of Ardmore. 11 great-grandchildren; Cade and Dayton Flesner, Claudia and Chloe Bell-Erdmann, Gracie Cate and Cash Erdmann, Garrett and Tripp Martin, and Macey, Reece and Creek Patterson; and numerous nieces and nephews and special friend, Caroline Cannon.
Celebration of Life service will be Tuesday the 21st at 11:00 AM at Life Church of Edmond located on I-35 and 2nd Street with a private burial. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 20th, from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Tuesday 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM at Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Jim Riley Outreach Program, The First Tee or the charity of your choice.