Martin Charles Leverett of Chesterfield passed away at 8:16 p.m. on July 11, 2024 at the Delmar Gardens West Nursing Home in Chesterfield.
Visitation will be at Centennial Baptist Church in Mexico (Audrain County) from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on July 27, followed by the funeral service.
Martin was born on December 20, 1941 in Middletown and was one of four children of Charles Homer and Lucy Jane (Allan) Leverett. On Jan. 27, 1968, Martin married the love of his life Sylvia Marie Apollo at St. Aloysius in St. Louis, who survives.
Martin was a 1960 graduate of Wellsville-Middletown R-1 High School. In the fall of his senior year, he enlisted in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1963, then entered the Army Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1967.
Survivors include his wife, Sylvia, who shared 56 wonderful years together and had three children and 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Jesse Carl Leverett, wife Melissa Loree (Hundey) Leverett and children Alex, Foster, Aiden and Clover; Melissa Anne (Leverett) Brumagin and husband Dan Brumagin, children Megan Danielle (Brumagin) Wishman and husband Luke Wishman and their children Brady, Ashton and Audrey, David Brumagin and wife Grace (Ecton) Brumagin, Josiah and Gideon; Jason Charles Leverett and wife Portia Ann (Erdel) Leverett and children Quinn, Kale and Prim.
Martin lived most of his life in Middletown, working as a farmer. Early in his life, he helped his father Charles with the family well drilling business, was also a professional welder and later a salesman for Golden Harvest and SeedTech seed companies. In 1986, the family moved to Mexico and Martin began a new career in real estate sales. Martin and Sylvia lived in Mexico until they entered nursing care.
One of Martin’s most cherished roles in life was in the church. He was ordained as a deacon at Middletown Baptist Church in 1979 and then later served at Centennial Baptist Church in Mexico. In 2023, he was awarded Deacon Emeritus status in a special recognition ceremony at Centennial. Throughout his life, Martin enjoyed talking with and meeting people and sharing God’s love. His love for God and humanity was shown in many ways, including an eagerness to engage in pretty much any conversation. Although he could be serious, he was known for his witty humor and easy smile. His interests that he spent his free time on were gardening, cooking and woodworking. He was also an animal person. He loved dogs and horses and really was interested in studying all the different breeds of them both. He had many pets throughout his life and treated them all like his family.
Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lucy, brother Allen and sister Beverly. He is survived by his loving wife, children, grandchildren, sister Marian (Leverett) Kern and numerous other family and friends.
