Ronald D. “Hoss” Martin, 49, of Parsons died at 2:54 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, in the Emergency Room at Labette Health.

He was born April 5, 1962, in Wichita to Ralph Jr. and Eva Janice (McElhinny) Martin. He grew up in Leon, Beaumont and Howard and was a 1980 graduate of Leon High School. He attended Independence Community College and later Labette Community College, from which he earned an associate’s degree.

He married Sandra McElroy on Jan. 4, 1986, in Altamont. They later divorced. Following marriage, he lived in Parsons, where he worked at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center and the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. He then worked as a truck driver for CFI and Grandview Products until becoming disabled.

He loved coaching pee wee football when his sons were younger and also enjoyed sporting events, fishing, traveling and writing poetry.

Survivors include two sons, Tony Martin and his wife, Sheila, of Parsons and Sgt. Stephan Martin and his wife, Stacy, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two grandchildren, Alexander and Hunter Martin; two brothers, Randy Martin of Douglass and Gary Martin of Seattle, Wash.; a sister, Bonnie Juaire of Howard; and his companion, Cindy Vandervoort of Parsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Jane Ogle, in August 2000.

Following cremation, a Celebration of Life service will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.