Obituary | Tony Martinez, Sr. | Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home, Inc. (2024)

Tony Martinez Sr. (Antonio Jose), 90 years of age, from Roy, New Mexico passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at Raton Nursing and Rehab Residence Home in Raton, New Mexico where he had resided for a year and a half after a stroke in January 2009.

Tony had an extremely rich Spanish heritage. The ancestors of Don Antonio Jose Severino Martinez settled in Taos, NM in the 1580’s. The Martinez Hacienda in Taos, NM is a museum in honor of the Martinez ancestral family. It was a fort where the Spaniards fought the Indians at that time. The family acquired land in Black Lake, Colfax County, and Harding County.

He was born on Nov. 4, 1919 on the family ranch homestead of Carrizo in Harding County. He attended school in DeHaven and graduated from Roy High School in 1938. He spent long-long days working on the ranch, breaking horses, branding cattle, and riding the range, along with all ranch work during the depression and afterwards. He then acquired his own ranch at Yates where he lived all his life raising cattle and sheep. All of his seven children worked the ranch with him along with his wife. In his latter years, his daughter Sandra and her family lived with him to take care of him due to a rare neurological condition that disabled him. His son, Tony Jr. and family also live there and helped him run the ranch.

He married Mollie Esquibel, on May 6, 1946 in Mosquero, NM. Out of this union were born seven children. He is survived by four daughters and one son: Rose Kirkland from Arlington, Texas; Tony and Kathy Martinez from Roy, NM; Dolores Mitchell from Maxwell, NM; Julia & Dewey Cook from Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Sandra DeLaho from Roy, NM. Surviving him are also two sisters and one brother: Carolina Gonzales from Albuquerque, NM; Maria Sanchez from Roy, NM; and D.M. (Teddy) Martinez from Roy, NM.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents Doroteo (D.M) Martinez who died in 1962; and his mother, Carolina, who died in 1964; his wife, Mollie, of 39 years, who passed away on Jan. 1, 1985; a son, Louie in 1966; a daughter Priscilla Shripka in 1996; a grandson, Nathan Romero and son-in-law Joseph Romero in1984; and brothers, Lazaro, Epimenio, and Arturo Martinez.

Surviving him are eight grandchildren whom Tony adored: George Kirkland, T.J. Martinez, Lesle Martinez, Jack Martinez, Patrick Romero, Brendon Cook, Samantha DeLaho, and Dustin Delaho as well as step-grandchildren Eric, Shawn, and Tiana Mitchell; and 4 great-grandchildren, Christopher, Harley and Shelby Romero, and Peyton Kirkland; 3 step-great grandchildren, Thomas, Shynn, and Tobie Mitchell,as well as many nieces and nephews.

Tony had many friends. He had a genuine love for people and his fellow man. His wife, Mollie used to say that he could be in a room of 100 people and by the end of the day, he would know their names, where they lived, and all about their families. Tony can be described as being very hard working, eccentric, disciplined, fun-loving, practical, and saw the humor in everything. He always had a positive attitude and could see the ‘silver lining’ in all of life’s painful experiences. He will be remembered as saying that “Everything was lovely” and used to tell the nurses they were “lovely” at his residence home.

Tony loved to hunt and travel. He will be remembered as a man of strong character, morals, and values. He was authentic and was always looking for ways in which to contribute to the life of friends and family by calling, sending them written notes, and offering to help in times of crisis. Throughout his lifetime, he gave away many vegetables from his garden and many pounds of home-grown beef.

He was also very active in the cattle industry. He was a life-long member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association; member of the Harding County Tax Committee in 1962; New Mexico Farm Bureau President from 1969-1973; New Mexico Livestock Association President from 1969-1972; New Mexico Land Office Advisory Committee member from 1969-1974; and member of the New Mexico Livestock Advisory Committee to the State Department of Agriculture. Tony contributed to many community organizations such as the Roy School system, Harding County FFA, and 4-H.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 9th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home Chapel in Raton. Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will be held Sunday, October 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Holy Family Church in Roy, NM. Solemn Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Monday, October 11, 2010 at the Holy Family Church in Roy at 11:00 a.m. Rite of committal and interment will be at the family homestead at Carrizo Cemetery. The family will host a dinner for all family and friends at the Roy Community Building after the burial around 3:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements for Tony Martinez, Sr. are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home of Raton.

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