GROVE, Okla. — Martin Lee Davis, 91, of Grove, Oklahoma, passed away the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, at Grand Lake Villa in Grove.
He was born on Jan. 8, 1933, to Maynard O. and Neva Fern (Van Boren) Davis near Bartlett. He grew up and attended school in rural Labette County, graduating from Labette County Community High School in 1950. Following high school, Martin earned an associate’s degree from Parsons Junior College and went to work as a machinist for Boeing Aircraft in Wichita.
In March 1957, he married Shirley J. (Ford) Davis, and they were married until his death.
After serving in Germany during the Korean War, he was honorably discharged from the United States Army. After discharge from the Army, Martin Lee returned to work at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita. In 1961, he began working for Pittsburg and Midway Coal Co. in Oswego as a machinist and welder until 1974, when the Kansas mine closed. He relocated to Madisonville, Kentucky, to work for P&M until 1978. He worked for the Peabody Coal Co. in Vinita, Oklahoma, from 1978 to 1985. He then worked as a machinist at AP Green Refractories in Pryor, Oklahoma, until retiring in 2005.
Martin Lee held lifetime memberships in the Vinita, Oklahoma, Masonic Lodge, the Order of the Eastern Star, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was proud of his Cherokee heritage.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and life at the lake. Martin Lee and Shirley divested themselves of real estate after his retirement and traveled the country living in their travel trailer. They made many friends from across the U.S. and Canada in their travels. Martin Lee enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and telling tall tales.
He is survived by his wife of over 67 years; a sister-in-law, Alice Davis; a nephew and a niece and their families.
The burial will be at Lake Creek Cemetery near Bartlett and is under the direction of the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Altamont.
Leave online condolences at www.forbeshoffman.com.
