Gary L. Martin, 65, of rural Attica passed away at 10 a.m. Friday, July 12, 2024, in The Springs at Lafayette, following a lengthy battle with ALS.
Gary was born June 8, 1959, at Lafayette, the son of the late Norman L. and Judith Richey Martin.
His sister, Brenda Martin Combs, preceded him in death.
Gary is survived by nephew Matthew Martin Combs and niece Amanda Combs Burris and her husband Jimmy Burris and their son Gunnar Thomas Burris. Gary was Gunnar’s best buddy in the whole wide world. Also surviving are brother-in-law, Tom Combs, and his beloved dog, Hoppy, one of several farm dogs that he had.
Gary was proud to have attended Richland Grade School and was a 1977 graduate of Fountain Central High School. He was a 1981 graduate of Purdue University School of Agriculture and the third generation of his family to attend Purdue. While at Purdue he was a member of Beta Sigma Psi fraternity.
He was a life-long farmer and he was proud to carry on over three decades of heritage on the family farm. Gary was the fifth generation Martin to farm in Fountain County. When he designed and had his new home built, he used as much material from the original post civil war homestead and incorporated it into his new home. Many will remember him as a bartender at Mountain Jacks in Lafayette where he was happily employed for nearly 30 years.
Gary enjoyed fishing and made 48 yearly trips to Canada every August and over 10 years in Florida in the winter months. Gary was funny, loved to laugh and usually had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He loved spending time with family and friends and was the life of the party.
Visitation will be 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, with a memorial service beginning at 4 p.m. at Family and Friends Funeral Home, Wingate. Gary will be privately interred in Green Bay Cemetery beside the family farm.
Memorials in Gary’s memory can be made to ALS Research Foundation.
Visit us at www.familyandfriendsfh.com to sign the guest book or share a memory.
