John R. Martinez

JOHN R. MARTINEZ Funeral Mass for John R. Martinez a resident of Cortez will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 14 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs. Father Carlos Alvarez will officiate. Interment and Military Honors will follow at Frances Cemetery at Arboles, Colo. Rosary services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. John R. was born October 30, 1917 at Dyke, Colo. the son of Florencio and Candelaria (Abeyta) Martinez. He passed away at Southwest Memorial Hospital on Saturday, December 9, 2006 at the age of 89. John R. served his country proudly and honorably in the U.S. Army. On December 26, 1946 he married Ernestine Mary Gurule in Durango at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They shared 55 years of marriage before her death in 2002. John R. was a member of Knights of Columbus and enjoyed fishing, camping and livestock. Surviving John R. are his children, Barbara Ramirez and husband, Felix of Houston, Tx., Greg Martinez of Cortez, Margie Martinez and husband, Bill of Cortez, and Lisa Montoya and husband, Manual of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; nine grandhchildren, Michael, Laura, John, Victor, Daniel, Derrick, Charles, Audrey and Jessica, ten great grandchildren, Stephanie, Victoria, Mikie, Amy, Marcus, Matthew, Zepphra, Alex, Duece and Trinity, and one great great grandchild, Ayden. John R. was preceded in death by his wife; three sisters, Sarah Gallegos, Lola Montoya, and Rebecca Martinez; and his grandchildren, Tina, Ricky, and Alexavierah.