Martin James Horn

Martin James Horn passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loved ones on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at his home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Born May 20, 1963, to Mathias and Patricia Horn in Wichita, Kansas, Martin was the third of six children. After the family moved to Oklahoma City in 1966, Martin attended St. Eugene Catholic School, where the kids could walk to school. Marty was a paper boy with his big brother, throwing papers throughout the Village while riding their bikes, and on the rare occasion, if it was cold enough, from the back of their mom’s station wagon. After eighth-grade graduation at St. Eugene, Marty followed his older siblings to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. Tall and lanky with long, blonde, 1970’s feathered hair, Marty was part of a large group of friends from the class of 1981 (and surrounding years) who would remain close into adulthood. Upon graduating, he enrolled at Oklahoma State University, and majored in Hotel and Restaurant Management, working his way through college waiting tables. By the late 1980’s, he was traveling with Chili’s to open new restaurants. The last of these projects took him to North Carolina. There, he met and married and changed careers, enrolling in law school. With a juris doctorate, Marty worked as a personal injury attorney, joining a few large firms until eventually striking out on his own to grow a successful private practice in Durham, North Carolina.

Martin’s proudest role was being a father to his three children, Samantha, Pearce, and Zoey. He loved being part of their every day - school drop offs and pickups, sports practices, driving up and down the East Coast for games and tournaments. He enjoyed being active outdoors, running, biking, swimming, fishing with his kids and brothers, and he loved being near the coast, as the beach was his favorite place to be. On August 31, 2017, while taking a surfing lesson, Martin suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury nearly losing his life. Paralyzed from the neck down, his life changed drastically. After months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, he moved back home to Oklahoma for the first time since college. His family and friends rallied around him, and Marty lived life to the fullest. In late 2024, he fulfilled a dream to live near the beach again, this time with his daughter Samantha and her family in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Marty reveled in being with his grandchildren every day. Upon his return to Oklahoma, Martin settled in Bartlesville with his sister, where he lived until his final illness and passing.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Pat. He is survived by his children, Samantha (Marlon), Pearce (Emily), and Zoey, and grandchildren Jaisa, Giann, and Maikol, He is also survived by his siblings – Debbie Caperton, Mike Horn, Suzette Williams, Michele Harris, and Mitchell Horn, brothers- and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. Marty leaves behind his tight circle of friends, whose love and inclusion were a source of joy. He was also blessed by the love and kindness shared by his incredible caregivers, who quickly became his friends as well.

The family requests donations in Martin’s name to Floating Doctors in lieu of flowers or plants.