Steven Todd “Pepper” Martin

Steven Todd “Pepper” Martin passed away on July 18, 2025, at T. Boone Pickens Cancer Center in Dallas, at age 54.

A gathering was held on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Springfield Hall, Groesbeck, to celebrate Todd’s life.

Todd grew up in Groesbeck, born on Dec. 3, 1970, to Steve and Pat Martin, with a younger sister, Shelli. He played football for 6 years with the Groesbeck Goats in junior high and high school, and enjoyed good friends, Todd Temlford, Jon Telford, Randy Grimes, and Billy Clary. Todd graduated in the Class of 1989. Todd could always light up the room with his smile and jokes.

Todd enjoyed rodeoing with Randy Grimes, riding bulls and roping, and overcame serious injuries during his life. His other hobbies were golfing and fishing and spending time outdoors.

Todd became a licensed electrician. He lived in the Dallas area for the past twenty years and worked for a company that constructed malls and stores all over the country. He was a construction superintendent working on job sites out of state, from California to North Carolina, for long periods of time, but enjoyed coming home to the Terrell and Wills Point area. Todd also owned Pepper-Martin Construction Co., which provided finish work on the construction projects.

After Todd was diagnosed with cancer, he continued working for some years throughout his treatments, until his final struggles during the last year. He enjoyed riding around in the evenings, listening to music, and grabbing “nanna pudding” late nights at Buckee’s. Todd had an infectious smile and a heart of gold. ARTIN He was loved and supported in all ways during this time by Tara Telford White, who was devoted to caring for him and praying with Todd.

Todd was preceded in death by his father, Steve Martin; grandfather, Johnnie Martin; grandmother, Alta Wilson Martin; aunts and uncle, Donna Robinett and Jay Lou and Frankie Beck; his sister, Shelli Price, in 2024; and his mother, Pat.

He is survived by his soulmate, Tara Telford White, and her brothers, with whom he grew up and was good friends-like brothers – Todd Telford and family, and Jon Telford and family. Another good friend growing up in Groesbeck was Randy Grimes and a good friend in Wisconsin later in life who was like a brother was Billy and Robin Clary. He is also survived by his brother-inlaw, Eric Price and his nieces and their children; uncle and aunt, Johnny and Judy Walton, uncle Jesse Robinett, cousins and other extended family; and many other friends from the Class of 1989 and throughout his life.