Keith F. Martin, SR. Obituary Keith F. Martin, Sr., 84 of 731 Liberty Street, Clarion, died early Monday morning, October 5, 2015 at his home of natural causes. Born in Butler, Pa, on July 10, 1931, he was the son of Walter Charles Martin, and Eleanor Kerner Martin. He was the last surviving member of his generation of this family. He graduated from Butler High School in 1949, after playing football and running track for the Golden Tornado teams. He played on the semi-pro football team, the Butler Cubs as a young man. One of his fondest memories was playing against Johnny Unitas under the Bloomfield Bridge in Pittsburgh. He attended Clarion State Teachers College for several semesters and played football for Waldo Tippin in the fall of 1954 and 1955. Keith came to Clarion in July 1953 to take over the Sunoco Service Station on Main Street, after several years as training manager for the Sun Oil Company in Pittsburgh. He was ahead of his time in the local market place, by cutting the price of a gallon of gasoline and increasing the volume. For many years his, Martins Independent Station, across from the Post Office and just as reliable, was the only service station open 24 hours a day, between Erie and Pittsburgh. Located next to the Modern Diner, it was a welcome stop for travelers going thru Clarion, before the construction of I-80. He and Judge Chuck Alexander, owner of the Diner, were the youngest business men in Clarion. Eventually, he owned and operated 4 more service stations, Martins Exxon, on West Main Street, Clarion; MGS Carwash station, on Edgy Flats going toward New Bethlehem, Martins Exxon , Exit 15 on I-80 and Martins Station off the viaduct in Butler. Eventually, he purchased the Esso (Exxon) Bulk Plant located on RT 322, west of Clarion, beside the railroad crossing at the top of the Clarion River hill, across from Finottis beer distributorship, where he ran several tankers and serviced 20 accounts. He was proud to have kept the rail road running with diesel fuel during the frigid winters of the fuel shortage of the early 1980s. Those were busy years, as he became a Knight of Columbus both 3rd and 4th degree, at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarion. For several Autumn Leaf Festival, the Knights, Council 7549, built their prize winning floats in the warehouse on the bulk plant property. At this time, he was a charter member of the local Eagles Aerie and served as President of the Clarion Chamber of Commerce. Along with Paul Weaver, I Love Clarion Day, 4th of July fireworks was a favorite yearly activity. His career as a Clarion County Commissioner began in 1982, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket for two terms. After 1 term out of office, he came back and was reelected for a third term, being the only person to ever succeed in that endeavor. As Commissioner he served on the local Airport Authority, the VNA board, the Prison Board, the Clarion County Fair Board and many other boards too numerous to mention. At the state level, he was elected President of the PA Democratic Commissioners Caucus for two terms. He also served a term as Chairman of the North West Region of PA County Commissioners. His door was open to everyone who wanted to see and talk with him. He spear headed the remodeling of the Commissioners offices in the Court House, where a second floor was added above the original office to accommodate 3 private offices for the three commissioners. One of his greatest efforts was put into planning and developing a Motor Sports Park, to be located on land owned by C & K Coal, in Piney Township. Several large meetings were held for interested citizen, in Clarion and Knox. Each meeting was filled to more than capacity, with a huge interest shown by other open minded business persons. He could not get the votes of his Republican counterparts needed to fund the study. He always said, If I could have gotten one other commissioner to go along with me at that time, we in Clarion County would not be paying any taxes now, because the Motor Sports Park would have generated all the revenue needed to sustain our communities. In 1987, he closed his petroleum business and turned his attention full time to local government and the travel industry in the North West Pennsylvania Region. January 1, 2000 brought retirement to him at the age of 69. Huntin season brought special joy and left lasting memories for Keith and his boys. The yearly ritual was looked forward to by him, whether in the early years, hunting with his friends and brother Bill (all now deceased) or in later years where The Boys learned the pleasure (and pain) of cold weather deer huntin with their Dad. Queenie, the family beagle howled at the door when they left her behind, after small game season was over. Over the span of his life time as a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Clarion, he served as a Eucharistic Minister, usher, Parish Council member, Grand Knight of the 3rd Degree Council and Faithful Navigator of the 4th Degree Assembly. Keith is survived by his wife, Virginia Bennett, whom he married in 1957 after his first wife Edith Heinzer Martin of Butler died in 1956 from injuries of a car crash. He had two sons, Keith Jr, and Bob and she had two children, Lee and Kelly, so together they produced three more children, Klancy, Kasey and Shaughnesy. Since the children were so young, they were adopted by Keith and Virginia as their own. So the 7 children were raised as THE MARTIN KIDS. Keith was so very proud of all the children for their achievements, both on the playing fields and in the classrooms. He always said the best gift he could give them was having been able to afford their post high school educations, so when they left those higher halls of learning they had no student debts to repay. Surviving children are: Keith Martin, Jr (Deb) of Clarion, Bennett Lee Ellsworth (Fred) of North East, Bob (Adriane) Martin of Kennerdell, Kelly (Genine) Martin of Clarion, Klancy (Denise) Martin of Harmony, RI, Kasey (Lyn) Martin of Clarion and Shaughnesy Lankard of Meadville. Also surviving are the following Grandchildren, Derek (Abby) Martin of Roaring Springs, PA, Nicole (Jared)Holiday, of Beaver Falls, PA Ashley (Ben)Wells, of Ashburn, VA., Seth Ellsworth of Columbus, Ohio, Clark (Selleena) Ellsworth of North East, Richelle (Perry)Haas of Shillington, PA, Robert Martin, Jr. of Meadville, Step-Grandchildren, David (Lacey) McCollough, of Seneca, PA, Melissa McCoullogh of Gibsonia, PA, Step-Grandchildren, Olivia and Andrew Auell of Warren, PA, Zachary Martin of Denver, CO, Grady and Connor Martin (twins) of Harmony, RI, Trenton Martin of Louisville, KY, Necessa Lankard of Saegertown, PA, Shalone Lankard of Linesville, PA. 18 Great Grandchildren complete the Martin Clan. A sister-in-law, Bills widow, Patricia Shaffner Martin, survives in Butler as well as several nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his 5 brothers and sister, Raymond, Walter Jr (Babe), Bill, Jim, Robert, and Vera Greenert Marsch. Friends may call at the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory in Clarion on Wednesday, October 7, 2-4 and 7-9pm. Special prayers will be offered on Wednesday evening at 8:30pm. Father Monty Sayers will preside at the funeral mass scheduled for Thursday morning, October 8th at 11am in the Immaculate Conception Church in ClarionMemorial contributions may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church, 720 Liberty Street, Clarion, PA 16214 Friends and family may send online condolences, order flowers and memorials and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net.