Louis Martinez Obituary

Louis G. Martinez returned to our Heavenly Father on Sept. 16, 2011. He was in the embrace of his loving family at the time of his passing.

Louis was born in Trinidad, Colo. on April 22, 1934. He was born to Jose Domingo Martinez and Jennie Julianita Montoya. He was one of ten children. Louis married the love of his life on October 20, 1953. They shared 58 loving years, and raised four children together.

He was a member of the Army National Guard for 33 years. He retired from the Guard in 1994. Louis was affectionately called "Grandpa" in his Unit, the 928th Medical Ambulance Unit. Louis worked at several jobs. He was Mechanic for Keesee Motors; he worked for Union Carbide as a skip tender and also worked in the construction trade.

Louis had the most gentle soul. A resident of both Cortez and of Yuma, Ariz., he was loved by all who met him. He was one of the most honest, hardworking men you could ever meet. He was an exceptional husband, father, brother and Grandpa. Although Louis had many illnesses and lived the last part of his life in pain, he always met everyone he saw with a smile. He loved the Lord and prayed every day. We were given a small miracle on Sept. 2nd, when we almost lost him. But God let him come back to us for a short time. He was in less pain than he had been in years. He was able to spend his last two weeks with his brother, sisters, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was glorious - we will always treasure those memories. But God needed another angel, so Louis had to go, and he went with peace and dignity.

He is survived by his wife Shirley of Yuma; children, Frank of Cortez, Louis Jr. (Cynthia) of Cortez, Angelo (Brenda) of Cortez, and daughter Joy (Robert Bussard) of Yuma; brother, John D. Martinez of Southgate, Calif., sisters Stella Aragon of Cudahy, Calif., Lucy Avila of Denver, and Gloria Martinez of Denver; brother-in-law, Mike Martinez of Fort Collins, Colo. and sister-in-law, Pauline Spahn of Denver. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Jennie; mother-in-law, Clara Martinez; brothers, Manuel, Joe and Frank; sisters, Mary Ann Lopez and Mary Pauline Carrasco; brothers-in-law, John Spahn, John Martinez, Smith Martinez, Ralph Martinez, and Tom Shay; and sister-in-laws, Leona Shay, Frances Grimm and Yolanda Martinez.

A Rosary will be held Friday night, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at 28 E. Montezuma Avenue in Cortez. Services will be Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. also at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, with a potluck lunch to be held afterwards at the American Legion. Interment will be at the Cortez Cemetery with American Legion Honor Guard services.