McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Billy Thomas Martin, 71, was born July 4, 1940 and died May 18 at River Park Hospital following a four-month illness. A retired employee of Keel Nursery and member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of the late Tommy and Annie Warren Martin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Young Martin; brother, James Martin; halfbrothers, A.D., J.C. and R.L. McGuire and halfsister, Pauline Lee.