Clifton F. Martin Jr, 86, of Cerro Gordo, IL passed away on Wednesday August 3, 2016, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be 12:00 noon, Saturday, August 6, 2016, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Cerro Gordo, IL, with visitation two hours prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in Cerro Gordo Cemetery, Cerro Gordo, IL. Memorials may be made to Cerro Gordo American Legion or The Brethren Church of Cerro Gordo.

Cliff was born Jan 23, 1930, in Decatur, IL son of Clifton F. Martin Sr and Georgianna (Kropp) Martin. He graduated salutatorian from Cerro Gordo High School, Class of 1947, where he played football, basketball and baseball, but was too shy to give the salutatorian speech. He married the love of his life, Valeria I. Parks on June 11, 1949. He played Fast Pitch softball for the Oakley Panthers and Cerro Gordo VanHorn teams, whom he managed for 3 years. As an exceptional catcher and softball player he was inducted into the Illinois Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 2007. He retired in 1987 from AE Staley Manufacturing Company after 40 years of service. He owned and operated Martin TV Repair service for 30 years. Cliff was a passionate fisherman, who would travel far and wide, sometimes to Canada, if someone said the fish were biting. Cliff won numerous Crappie tournaments over the years and enjoyed taking his sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and nephews fishing. He was an avid bowler, sometimes bowling on two teams.

Cliff is survived by his wife of 67 years; Valeria (Parks) Martin of Cerro Gordo; his daughter, Susan (Tom) Lange of Oakley, IL; his sons, Steven (Diana) Martin of Decatur, IL, Terry (Jennifer) Martin of Cisco, IL, nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren; sisters Jane (Claude) Stogsdill of Peru, IN, Judy (Gene) Durbin of Cerro Gordo, IL, Linda (Mick) Tirpak of Cerro Gordo, IL; brothers Harold (Nancy) Martin of Cerro Gordo, IL, Roger (Nancy) Martin of San Antonio, TX, Mike (Linda) Martin of Cerro Gordo, IL.

His parents, sister Dorothy (Raymond) Richardson and infant brother Donald Dean Martin preceded him in death.

The family wishes to thank the staff in the DMH Emergency Room and ICU for all the loving care and support provided to Cliff and his family. The family would also like to thank all our family and friends for your visits, support and prayers, with a special thank you to Pastor Terry Leach, Pastor Rod Hite and Pastor Randy Meador for your visits, comforting words and prayers.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com.