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MARTIN -- Robert C. Martin was born on January 2, 1912 to Anna Bunton Martin and Henry Robert Martin in Duncan, AZ. About a month after his birth, his mother passed away, and he was given to his aunt, Elizabeth Tyson, to raise while his father worked as a cattleman and horse trader. When he was four years old, his father passed away and, thereafter, he was raised by different members of his family. While growing up, he attended schools in Lordsburg, NM, and Duncan, AZ. He graduated from high school in Miami, AZ, in 1930. After high school, he entered several business enterprises in Duncan, including a ready to wear store, a general store, and a meat market and restaurant. None of these businesses were very successful because he extended credit to everyone. In 1933, he eloped and married Ione Rose, in Lordsburg. Shortly thereafter, he and Ione moved to a cattle ranch near Red Rock, NM. From 1934 until 1978, he was actively engaged in cattle ranching near Red Rock, where he raised Hereford cattle. Whenever he had an opportunity, he purchased additional land to increase the size and capacity of his ranch. Over the years, the Martin Ranch grew to one of considerable size. In 1978, he and his wife finally finished raising cattle and sold the ranch. In 1945, Robert was elected as a director of the First National Bank of Lordsburg. In 1955, he was elected Chairman of the Board, and served in this capacity until 1995, at what is now known as Western Bank. Robert believed it was important to be active in the community. He was elected to the Red Rock school board. In 1952, he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives from Grant County, and served the citizens of New Mexico in that capacity until 1976. Upon his retirement from the legislature, then Governor Bruce King, appointed him to serve as a member of the New Mexico State Highway Commission. He was a member and past Master of the Lordsburg Lodge 30 AF and AM. He was elected to the Hidalgo County Cattleman's Hall of Fame in 2000. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ione, on September 4, 2004. They worked side by side, through many difficult times, and he often referred to her as "the best cowboy I ever had." He is survived by one daughter, Anna Martin Wright, of Amarillo, TX; a son, Robert C. Martin, Jr. of Silver City, NM and his wife, Marie Parrish Martin; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be conducted at the Lordsburg Funeral Chapel at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 31, 2006, with Mr. Ed Kerr officiating. Interment will follow in Shakespeare Cemetery in Lordsburg, NM, with Masonic Services. Pallbearers are Michael Martin, Clifford Wright, David Braune, Chris Purkeypile, Bill Wright, and Walt Anderson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Western New Mexico University School of Nursing, in care of the WNMU Foundation at PO Box 680, Silver City, NM 88062.
        Published on: Mon May 29, 2006