Gerard, began his life’s journey on December 3, 1964, born to Mr. Felton Martin and Mrs. Clara Bell Syas. He was the youngest of three children, Kevin Martin, Chanta Lynn Martin and Gerard LeMall Martin.
Gerard confessed his faith in Christ at an early age. He was educated in his faith by the family church, Church of God.
He was educated in the Tulsa Public School System, attending Woods Elementary, Cleveland Jr. High and Will Rogers High School. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1983, his formal education continued at Okmulgee Technical School, as a candidate in the Automotive Technology Program.
Early in life he married Trudy Byrd and to this union two daughters were born, Latruce C. Martin and ChriShane Deborah Martin, he also had another daughter, Amorieon Faleece Henderson.
Gerard wore many hats in his life, that of a loving husband, a devoted father, brother, uncle, cousin, grandfather and friend. He learned many skills while tagging along with his father on jobs. He became an accomplished carpenter, able to build anything, from a chicken coop to a mansion. He was skilled in interior decorating, a painter; he installed flooring of all kinds. He did plumbing, as well as electrical work. When called upon by the girls in his life, he could diagnose what was wrong with your car and many times fix it too. Gerard was a Machinist and worked in that industry for many years. He was employed as a chef at the Tulsa International Airport and was a Head Butcher in the Banfield meat department as well.
During one phase of his life, he was a realtor, owning many properties, buying, repairing and flipping them. After his children were grown, he decided to work for himself, using his many talents. He was known throughout the community for his carpentry skills. He was never without as assignment to work for someone.
Gerard loved cooking and eating good food. When he would meet you or talk to you on the phone, his first question was “what did you cook today.” One of his greatest pleasures was having family and friends over for barbeque, that he cooked. He fancied himself a Grill Master. He was a fun loving man, his laughter was infectious, he loved telling and hearing a good joke. In his presence, you were always going to have a smile on your face.
Gerard also loved fishing, sitting on the banks of the Oologah with the sun streaming through the tree leaves, shinning on his face, hot dogs on the grille, with a good drink in his hand, he would lean back and say “Ahhh this is the life.”
Later on in his journey through life his health began to fail. He was plagued with many progressive health complications. Did he become bitter and cynical?, “No”, when life tossed Gerard a lemon, he made lemonade. He met triumph and disaster, and treated them the same. Accepting the good as well as the bad, with thankfulness for the good and courage to face the bad.
After 55 years, Gerard left his life on earth, for an upgrade to Heaven, on Monday, March 2, 2020. Sleep well sweet ebony prince. Gerard leaves to cherish his love and memory, daughters, Latruce Martin, Chrishane Deborah Martin and Amorie’on Faleece Henderson, a sister, Charita Lynn Martin a brother, Kevin Fitzgerald Martin and his beloved grandchildren, Richard Lamont Lemall Lee Wilson and Lilly Alexandra Thompson, nieces, Rashauna Lynn Martin, Denisha Bell Barker, Deondre Felton Evans and Derrck Deon McBee, Jr. and great nephew Jahiem Rashod Ramar, a devoted life companion, Joyce Warrior Youngblood and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces nephews and a multitude of friends.
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