Martha "Martita" Dolores Martinez

After a full life, Martha "Martita" Martinez (97), beloved spouse, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and mother-in-law, rose to be with those who've passed.

Marta Dolores Martinez, though she dropped her middle name but not her good looks to have left plenty of men with "Dolores de corazon." Ludlow, California, where she was born, shut down, becoming a "Cucuy" ghost-town erasing her history. She was valedictorian for Zavala elementary but never gave her speech as her father died that day. Wonder Woman played right guard for the Bowie High School Bears. No, not the football team, but the spirit of the Chavez Martinez community, where she would unleash her inner Bowie Bear Bite to protect family and friends.  

She was a true gem, an incredible friend, and the kindest person. She never turned her back on anyone, could remember names and history like an encyclopedia, and loved good jokes. When someone spoke ill of another, her favorite testimony was Quien Sabe, avoiding judgment. That saying, along with learning to live within her means, keeping good records, and being good with figures, qualified her for the Quien Sabe Mafia, along with her other saying, "Calladita te vez mas bonita."    

Her culinary expertise led her to prepare meals at Sky Chef. She made sure her children were well-fed while the in-laws jokingly got bones and broth.

Until the age of 96, she drove across town to grocery stores for sales, saving pennies yet consuming gas. Living through the depression, several wars, and pandemics, she knew there were fools and liars in office but could not understand why the public would follow them, especially him. 

Martita was the daughter of Carlos Chavez and Candida Enriquez. Two brothers and two sisters preceded her in death, Carlos, Sergio, Delia Nevarez, and Gloria Del Valle. Her sister Lucy (John) Terrazas survived her. Martha married Samuel L. Martinez, who drowned in 1974. They had four children, Yvonne Bonnie Jaquez, Samuel Carlos (Ruth) Martinez, Irma Loretta (Gilbert) Avila, and Eduardo Eddie (Susie) Martinez. Her grandchildren are Garret Hall, Noemi N. Martinez, Carlo J. (Emma) Martinez, Adriana Avila, Valerie (Hector) Garcia, Valerie (Aaron) Gavin, Lorenzo (Itzel) Martinez, and Sarah (Alfonzo) Zavala.

GrandMaMa adored her great-grandchildren: Garret (Valerie) Hall II, Damian Hall, Uriah Hall, Skye Karina Wilson, Joaquin Luca Martinez, Avery Gavin, Jaylen Golden, Bryce Brown, Jackson Brown, Khloe Garcia and Ayla Zavala. Her great-great-grandchildren are Kaylanie Hall, Garret Hall III, and Julius Hall.

A Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, from 5 PM to 6 PM, with a Eulogy service at 6 PM and a Holy Rosary to follow at 7 PM at Sunset Funeral Home West. The interment will be at Fort Bliss on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 11 AM at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. She would love participants to dress in Bowie High School garments or to your satisfaction.

Cremation took place privately at the family's convenience. If inclined, donate on her behalf to her much appreciated health services Nuevo Amanecer Foster Care c/o Joan De La Rosa, 5850 Beaumont Pl, El Paso, Tx, 79912. Sympathy notes can be sent to Irma Avila, 7132 Cerro Negro Drive, El Paso, TX 79912.  

So many will miss Martha deeply, but shared memories are forever cherished. Mothers are precious with boundless hearts living perpetually in our hearts.