Sylvia Elaine Martin

Sylvia Elaine Martin, of Coleman, Oklahoma, passed from this life on Tuesday, November 14 2023, in McAlester Oklahoma at the age of 72. She was born on Sunday, January 14, 1951, near Coleman, Oklahoma, to Finis and Dorothy (Dean) Benge. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Coleman. She and her sister Joan played in the stream and under the pecan trees, down in the bottom. Later, she and Joan would gather pecans from those same trees for extra Christmas spending money. She attended Coleman school and graduated in 1969. That same year, she fell in love with the handsome young man who grew up next door. On October 4, 1969 she married Doyal Ray Martin at the Baptist Church in Coleman, Oklahoma. They moved away to the city to start a family but returned several years later. With the exception of these few years, Sylvia lived her entire life within a mile of the house she was born in. For 53 years they enjoyed each other’s company; going to car races, maintaining the family farm, and attending family get-togethers. Sylvia enjoyed making people happy and the best way she found to do it was with a tasty meal. She incorporated this into her profession by working at the Coleman School Cafeteria for 25 years. She also used it great effect with her grandchildren by cooking wonderful holiday meals and keeping plenty of snacks on hand. Sylvia liked to keep in touch with the members of the community, most of whom were also family, by attending the Baptist Church of Coleman, where she was a lifelong member. For those who were not a member of her church she worked for the Johnston County Board of Elections as a poll worker after she retired from the school. Besides her parents, Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband Doyal Martin, February, 2023 and her sister Joan Benge, April, 2006. She is survived by two sons, Christopher Lee and his wife, Shannon, of Kenefic, Oklahoma, Donnie Ray and his wife, Wanda, of McAlester, Oklahoma and grandchildren, Dante Martin, Lilli Martin and Andrew Rippee of McAlester, Oklahoma and Riley Wilson and Collin Wilson of Kenefic, Oklahoma. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, Nov. 20, at Coleman Cemetery. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Doyal. Pallbearers will be Jerry Brown, Jerry Pigg, Dante Martin, Riley Wilson, Rusty Daniel, Fred Raines, Greg Ferguson, and Andrew Rippee. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com. https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/RX3KD3XX7YF3Z2HS

Sylvia Elaine Martin

January 14, 1951 - November 14, 2023