Troy Sibley Martin

Funeral services for Troy Sibley Martin, 90, of Seagraves, Texas, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 2, 2023, in the First Baptist Church in Seagraves. The Rev. Troy Wayne Martin will be officiating under the direction of Ratliff Funeral Home, Seagraves.

Troy Sibley passed away on December 20, 2022, in his home and was surrounded by his family.

Troy was born September 2, 1932, in Ropesville, Texas to Andrew Bert Martin and Eula Mae Stephenson Martin. Troy married LaValta Ruth Floyd on June 3, 1950, in Seagraves.

Troy was a farmer and raised cotton, milo, peanuts, sunflowers, alfalfa, cattle, pigs, and honey bees. He was a Funk’s G Hybrid seed salesman and managed Five Points Gin for several years. He later organized a group of farmers to purchase this gin. He chaired the ASCS Committee in Gaines County and was part of a delegation that met with President Lyndon B. Johnson. He also participated in the Farmer Tractorcade Protest of the 1970s.

Troy was active in his community. He confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was a member of the Seagraves Church of the Nazarene, where he served as Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, and song leader. For his devoted service, the church honored him with the Distinguished Service Award. He organized a city-wide revival sponsored by the Seagraves Ministerial Alliance. He was member of the Lions Club and served a term as President. He was also President of Little Dribblers Association and served as a class parent for 8 years. He was a 4-H leader and was heavily involved in the Seagraves FFA and the Gaines County Stock Show.

Troy and LaValta were recognized by the Seagraves Chamber of Commerce as an integral part of the Seagraves community. He and his family were recognized as “Farm Family of the Year” by Gaines County. He received the “Man of the Year Award” in 1981.

In January 1981, Troy suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. While his days of hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and bowling were over, he nevertheless found ways to enjoy life. He delighted in watching the Dallas Cowboys, loved people, and took pleasure in joking and cutting up with them. He was on Hospice for over 5 years and was loved by the Hospice Staff.

He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Eula Mae Martin, his sister Elvia Bridges, and his brother Burt Martin.

Troy is survived by his wife LaValta Ruth Martin of Seagraves, son Troy Wayne and Sheryl Martin of Bourbonnais, IL, his daughters Pam and Lee Billings of Seagraves and Susan and Jim Leach of Denver City as well as his sisters Norma Faye Ward and Carolyn Ann Mills and his six grandchildren Andrea, T.J. and her husband Gary, Amie, Jennifer and her husband Justin, Brad and his wife Brittany, and Jacy and her husband Brock. He also leaves behind ten great-grandchildren Paige, Eli, Lucas, Caleb, Danica, Tristan, Trace, Collins, Grayson, and Cassie and her husband Aaron. Troy will be sorely missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Seagraves Church of the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, PO Box 456, Seagraves, TX 79359 or Grace Campus, PO Box 53891, Lubbock, TX 79453.

Visitation prior to the funeral service is scheduled from 4:00 to 6:00PM on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Ratliff Funeral Home Chapel.