John Martin

STATESVILLE — Johnny (John) Myers Martin, 73, of Statesville, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2014, after a brief illness at the Gordon Hospice House. He was born June 6, 1940, in Jonesville to the late Lonnie and Collie Martin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Robert Gale Martin. He married the former Kaye Triplett Martin on July 1, 1972, who survives and his three children, Barry Martin (Kim) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Pam Martin Purifoy (Stephen) of Durham, and Carrie Martin Sohovich (Brian) of Statesville. He is also survived by his brother, Dale Martin (Kathy) of Raleigh; four grandchildren, Mandy Martin Jansen (Keith) of Virginia Beach, Amy Martin Emmett (Mark) of Elizabeth City, Mia and Emma Sohovich, both of Statesville; and three great-grandchildren, Jake and Sadie Jansen and Addie Jo Emmett. He served honorably in the United States Air Force. He was president and owner of Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing Services. John was an active member of the Greater Statesville Rotary Club having served as president, district secretary and a Paul Harris Fellow. He also was instrumental in the Group Study Exchange Program, serving as a group leader for a team to Australia in 1997. He helped secure funds for several international projects with the last project being bathrooms for a Peruvian Orphanage. John was also a member and past master of the Statesville Masonic Lodge #27. A visitation will be held on Friday, May 9, 2014, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Broad Street United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at 11 a.m. A private burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery. Condolences may be sent online to the family to www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC, 28625; the Broad Street United Methodist Church, 315 W. Broad St., Statesville, NC, 28677; or to the Greater Statesville Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1614, Statesville, NC 28687. A special thanks to the staff of Hospice of Iredell County, Gordon Hospice House, Dr. James Foushee and Staff, Dr. Ruby Grimm, and the nursing staff of Iredell Memorial Hospital for the loving care. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.