Funeral: 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 26, 2025 in the Jones-Preston Funeral Chapel

Visitation: 12:00 Noon until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025 and 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 26, 2025 at Jones-Preston Funeral Home

Burial: Martin Family Cemetery, Castle Fork, Stambaugh, Kentucky

The Fixer of broken things

We amass together today as family and friends to celebrate the life of James (Jimmy) Martin.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife: Dixie and son: Michael Martin; His parents: Dallas and Anna Louise who he cherished as "mom", and Evelyn Custard; and two sisters: Eloise Vanhoose and Bonnie Pelphrey.

James is survived by his children: Kenny/Kim Martin of Stambaugh KY, and Cindy/David King of Nippa KY;  6 grandchildren: Elizabeth/Bryan Zimmerman of Trenton KY, Trent/Tiffany Tackett of Stambaugh KY, Jordan Tackett of Stambaugh KY, Nikki/Perry Caldwell of Salyersville KY, Kenndra/Trevor Cox of Richmond KY, and Constance Martin of Stambaugh; 11 Great-grandchildren with another on the way; 2 brothers: Larry Martin of Staffordsville KY, and Cliff Custard of PA; and two sisters: Carol Pelphrey of Stambaugh and Jo Ann Martin of Stambaugh.

Jimmy was an adoring husband to his late wife Dixie of 53 years. He was a loving brother. He was a dedicated father who would sacrifice for his children. He was a joyously proud grandfather. He was devoted to his family, providing an unquestioned sense of love and belonging. He was a friend and decent human to every person who was fortunate enough to meet him. His service extended to his church, West Van Lear Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon.

A gifted mechanic, Jimmy was a tinkerer, a fixer of broken things. His hands were always working, hands that carved out a life where his actions spoke volumes about the man he was. His life was a lesson on kindness, generosity and simplicity. A lesson that strength can be soft spoken, that limited means does not limit possibility, that rough hands can be gentle, and that grief is a decree of love. This last lesson can be keenly felt and remembered today – our grief is an expression of our love for him, and we will use his example to turn the loss we feel in our hearts into love we show to others- We will feed others, we will care for others, we will use our own soft words and kind nature to sooth and mend and fix broken things.

We are humbled by the beautiful life he led and will carry on his legacy by spreading love and compassion to those around us.

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 26, 2025 in the Jones-Preston Funeral Chapel with David Blevins officiating. Burial will follow in the Martin Family Cemetery, Stambaugh, Kentucky. Friends may visit the Jones-Preston Funeral Home from 12:00 Noon until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025 and 11:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 26, 2025.

Jones-Preston Funeral Home is both Honored and Privileged to be Entrusted with all funeral arrangements for Mr. James "Jimmy" Lee Martin.