05/25/2026
Today and every Memorial Day we remember Uncle Orie. 🇺🇸
Uncle Orie Martin left his new wife and baby girl behind to defend our country in WW2. Just three weeks after he arrived with his company in Europe, he lost his life there. November 28, 1944.
The only son of Ray and Elsie Martin, and the only brother of Clyde’s mom, Mary, our house was built in 1929 with him in mind. His feet roamed this acreage harvesting crops, canning tomatoes, and carrying out fourth generation Martin family dream...until he went to war.
His death changed the course of life for the Martin family. Clyde’s parents, Leonard and Mary soon married and began to work with and for Granddaddy Ray. The house sat vacant for awhile, yearning for the lost dream of the one who had planned to live within its walls for a lifetime. The local pastor lived here temporarily. Today we hear stories and read old letters telling how the church youth gathered here, young couples were married, and the tomato cannery that once was vibrant and providing jobs for the community closed its doors. Huddleston was missing their boy.
In 1958, Leonard and Mary (Martin) Bays moved in with their five boys—Dennis, Danny, Donnie, David, and baby Basil. Once again there was life within. Generational, Martin family life. The farm continued, another business was added in the same spot as the cannery walls fell, and the family continued to grow with Kathy and Clyde. Seven children in the Bays family. This place was alive again.
It has been alive every day since. Family has gathered, cows have provided, equipment that moved dirt all over this county has been put to pasture, and new has taken its place.
This farm and business has provided for seven generations. We will never forget how the sacrifice of one of Huddleston’s boys changed the course for our family. We are forever grateful for the legacy he leaves on this hallowed ground.
We remember you, Uncle Orie. We will never forget.
