Linda Joye Martin

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant Linda Joye Martin.

Linda Joye was given life by her creator and was born on September 19, 1943, in Portales, New Mexico to Clifford Jesse and Veta Oleta (Bilberry) Hiner. She received the gift of Holy Baptism and became a child of God at the Baptist Church in Portales.

She met her husband, James Madison Martin, Jr., while he was stationed in Clovis, New Mexico with the United States Air Force. They were married on December 30, 1958, in Muleshoe, Texas. They were blessed with a son, James M. Martin III in January 1960, and two daughters, Pamela Susan in December of 1961 and Cynthia Lynn in February of 1963.

After Jim was honorably discharged from the Air Force, they moved their family to St. Louis, Missouri where they lived for many years. Jim and Linda adventured around the globe and lived in many foreign countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Australia. Upon returning to the States, they chose to continue their adventurous lifestyle by taking many of their grandchildren with them on trips around the country in their camper. They lived for many years in Sebring, Florida, and then moved to Phoenix, Arizona for a time before settling with their daughter in Texas to be near many of their great-grandchildren.

Linda suffered a stroke in 2014 and weathered her condition with grace for many years. Finally, on February 12, 2026, God blessed her with a holy death and took her home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the body.

Linda is survived by her son James (Terri) Martin III, of Foristell, Missouri, daughter Cindy (Brad) Browne, of Allen, Texas; twelve grandchildren James (Michelle) Martin IV, Steven (Jena) Zurian, Branden (Katherine) Martin, Jon (Kayla) Zurian, Kathryn (Matthew) Gefaller, Anna (Kyle) Logsdon, Paul Zurian, Aaron Browne, Tyler (Lexi) Martin, Kimberly (Anthony) Ipsaryanos, Rebecca (Christopher) Fucilla, and Kara (Jordan) Knabach; twenty-two great-grandchildren: Madison, Katherine, and Steven Jr. Zurian; Jaycie and Mason Martin; Bailey Zurian; Reagan, Elijah, Joanna, Eden, Theodore, and Norah Gefaller; Kaylie, Avery, and Chase Logsdon; Sonny Martin; Andrew Ipsaryanos; Arabella Fucilla; Peter, Henry, Isaiah, and Wesley Knabach. Linda is preceded in death by her beloved husband Jim, as well as her parents, her brother George Edward Hiner, her sisters Jo Dean Hiner and Phyllis Dawn Cooper-Hamm, and her daughter Pamela Zurian Emge.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for Linda Martin.

A funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 23, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas.

Linda will be laid to rest with her husband at 1:00 p.m., following the funeral at Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery, Dallas Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Faith Lutheran Church at http://faithplano.org/donate or Amen Care Senior Living, 810 Yupon Drive, Allen Texas 75002.

Pallbearers

James Madison Martin, III
James Madison Martin, IV
Branden Michael Martin
Tyler McKenzie Martin
Steven George Zurian
Jon Andrew Zurian
Paul Clifford Zurian
Aaron Marshall Browne
Reagan James Gefaller
Elijah Philip Gefaller