John Martin Kay passed peacefully in his home on December 2, 2022 after a long illness.  He was born on December 21, 1939 in Newton KS to John Rex and Juliette Kay.

Martin spent his youth in Kansas where he worked for his father in produce of the Dillons grocery store in Hays.  He started college at Kansas State as a chemical and nuclear engineer.  After one year where he was on the Dean's Honor Roll, he left to join the Air Force.  He served for 4 years and while serving he worked on telemetry for missiles and worked with NASA where he designed the communication systems for the first manned space flights.  It was while in the Air Force, he worked with a small radio station in his off time and developed his passion for broadcasting.  When he left the Air Force, he returned to college and got his degree in speech therapy while he worked at KAYS in Hays as the television weatherman.  He remained in broadcasting for many years and was transferred to several Midwest states until eventually settling in Springfield, MO where he remained and raised his family.  Martin was the sales manager of KWTO for many years before leaving and founding Springfield! Magazine.  He was involved in several other projects and positions before finally retiring.  Throughout his lifetime he won several local and national awards for speaking, sales and advertising.  He was well known as a tremendous story teller and entertained the young ones by playing his ukulele and harmonica.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Annette, his parents and one grandson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his 3 children, Carol, Brian and Doug; his step daughters, Debby and Barb, 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and his brother, George.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.