Fleeter Marti

Roland “Fleeter” Marti, age 79, of Lamar Heights, Missouri, passed away early Wednesday morning, December 16, 2015, at his home.      Fleeter was born December 19, 1935 at his family home in Barton County, the youngest of the twelve children of Louis and Olive (Cordill) Marti.  He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Robert, Ed, Carl, Allen, Dean, and Don Marti; and three sisters, Eunice Martin, Peg Bucher, and Rosemary Degnan.      After graduating from Lamar High School in 1953, Fleeter entered the U.S. Army.  Returning home in 1955, he attended college in Pittsburg, Kansas and Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  On June 24, 1960, at Lamar, Fleeter married Margaret Berryhill and together they farmed and operated Berryhill Oil Company.  Over the years, they developed the corner that welcomed many travelers to Lamar, anchoring several businesses with their well-known LaMarti’s Truck Stop.  Fleeter officially retired in 1997, but remained very active in his community in many organizations including Metro, Jaycees, Elks Lodge, Lamar Country Club, Rotary, Masonic Lodge and Shriners.      Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Margaret; a son, Jerry (Debbie) Marti, Lamar; two daughters, Sharri (Bill) Emmerling, Pittsburg, and Julie (Erin) Miller, Lamar; a brother, Charles (Alice) Marti, Lamar; a sister, Polly (Roy) Schrock, Eureka, Illinois; a brother-in-law, Jack Degnan, Bloomington, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Jean Marti, Arlene Marti, and Kay Marti, all of Lamar, and Delores Marti, Gridley, Illinois; eight grandchildren, Kimberly Marti, Jennifer (Kale) Regier, Charis (Rodney) Woods, Rinnah Emmerling, Josiah Emmerling, Jeremy “J-Dawg” Marti, Marlie and Josie Miller; and a large extended Marti and Berryhill family.      A funeral service including Elks and Masonic Rites will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Fleeter’s birthday, Saturday, December 19th at Daniel Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service.  Burial will be at a later date.      Memorial contributions are suggested to Camp Barnabas.