Michelle Higinbotham
My DadI want to thank everyone for coming today to honor my dad. It means so much to my family and I.Mom, thank you for taking such good care of dad. He never missed a meal in almost 50 years. I am absolutely convinced that he had a much better life because of you. Mike and Gary, thank you for helping dad these past weeks…taking him to OKC and Mike, for taking care of him at home and talking with him during all of those sleepless nights. It's so hard to believe that my dad is gone. This all happened so fast. If someone would have told me at Thanksgiving that my dad would be gone by the first of FEB, I would have pointed to the man outside splitting wood and said, "I don't think so. Not my dad. Not Don Martin."I have so many stories and memories of him. It's impossible to share them all. A few years ago, my parents became neighbors to a family with young children. My dad was instantly a hit with their young boys. After my dad passed, they sent this letter to my mom. Their words have made me smile because their love for my dad truly captures who he was:From Josiah age 7 I'm sorry Mr. Don died. He taught me a lot of things. He taught me how to trap a gopher or a mole. He gave me a knife. And he taught me how to catch a snake, ride a bike, and he taught me how to work with a brush. I love him so much. From Addi age 5 Mr. Don taught me how to pick up leaves and climb trees. I will miss him a lot. I know how the little neighbor boys feel. My dad was my best friend too. He taught me how to swim in the Illinois River. In fact, he taught a lot of kids how to swim in that river. He was the only adult that ever hung out with the kids. He would get in the water fully clothed and spend hours with us. He taught me to ride a horse, a motorcycle, and how to drive. My fondest memory of him is when he would saddle our best mare and we would go on a trail ride, me riding and him walking beside me. We would start out across the pasture and stop to eat a pear from a row of pear trees. Then we would belt out a Marty Robbins song while trekking along the path, past the old barn, through the thick woods and on to Big Pond and then all the way back home. Once we arrived home, he'd go back to working on the yard. This was Don Martin. He loved kids. He loved his family. He loved to help people. He didn't expect anything in return. He helped my husband and I with our new home so much last year. He never gave up on anyone and he loved the unlovely.I am so very proud of my dad. Although he was raised in the Tulsa Boys Home, he never allowed his past to dictate his future. He worked incredibly hard his entire life; at McDonnell Douglas, on his property, and doing things for many others. He had an amazing work ethic that I know all admired and respected. I know everyone here has a special memory of my dad. I feel like he left us too soon. I feel like he was supposed to be here another 20 years. I'm so sad that he's gone. But I am so thankful that I had such a wonderful dad and that losing him has hurt this deeply because he WAS such a good man. He will be greatly missed. By Don's daughter, Michelle; read at his funeral