Thomas Leslie Martin, 69, died Nov. 28, 2011 at his home following a courageous battle against cancer. Born on Sept. 9, 1942 he was the first born son of George Earl and Maxine (Salmans) Martin of Larned, Kansas. Tom graduated from Larned High School, received a bachelor of education degree from Emporia State Teachers College, and a master of education from Arizona State University.

He is survived by his three loving children and their families: daughter Laura Jayne (Martin) and Steven Steging and their sons Tony and Charlie of Batavia, Illinois; daughter Leslie Lynn (Martin) and Miguel Camargo and their daughter Jessica of Batavia, Illinois; and son William Andrew and Karen (Kallstrom) Martin and their children Katie, Charlie, and Tommy of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

He is also survived by his mother, Maxine (Salmans) Martin of Larned, Kansas; two brothers Robert Earl and Jan Martin of Prairie Village, Kansas and George Dennis Martin and Fiancé Dolores Wren of Larned, Kansas; his Aunt Ruth (Chittie) Martin of Frankfort, Kansas; and his Uncle Bob Salmans of Larned , Kansas. He was preceded in death by his father George Earl Martin of Larned, Kansas.

Tom was a Kansas Boy's State delegate, an Eagle Scout, a 32 degree Mason, a member of Isis Shrine, a member of Moose Lodge 682 and a member of the Episcopal faith. He taught school in Cheyenne, Wyoming before moving to Batavia, Illinois. Tom worked at Houghton Mifflin in Geneva, Illinois as a Sales Manager and helped in the formation of Riverside Publishing. After leaving Riverside, Tom returned to his true love of teaching. Tom accepted a mathematics teaching position at Gregory Middle School in Naperville, Illinois which he held for 24 years. At Gregory Middle School he was involved in numerous school activities including coaching the school's football team. Tom was an Illinois Education Association (IEA) senator, IEA board of Directors member, Region representative, and Chair of Region 52 for three years.

Services in Illinois were held at Calvary Episcopal Church 222 S Batavia Ave. Batavia Illinois
on Saturday December 3, 2011.

Services in Larned will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, December 10th at the Sts. Mary & Martha of Bethany Episcopal Church, 803 Main St., Larned, KS with Father Mark Cowell presiding. A family visitation will follow the service. Friends may sign the register from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Beckwith Mortuary, Larned.

Inurnment will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Larned Cemetery in Larned, Kansas.

Tom loved teaching and dedicated himself to the education of youth and will be missed by family and friends.

In lieu of flowers and cards donations may be made to the Thomas Martin Scholarship Fund at Harris Bank Naperville, IL to help students achieve their educational goals