Obituary of Francisco Esias “Frank” Martinez
October 4, 1920 – September 12, 2018
Our father and grandfather, Francisco
Esias “Frank” Martinez, died on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. His funeral will begin with a rosary at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass
at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in
Walsenburg, Colorado. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery North, immediately after
Mass, followed by a reception at the Community Center.
Frank was a son of Colorado pioneer
families and a descendant of both Native Americans and the earliest Europeans
to settle the Southwestern United States in 1598. His parents, Juan Andres
Martinez and Maria Martha Archuleta, were ranchers and merchants in Huerfano
County. Their parents and grandparents lived in New Mexico and Southern
Colorado when the territory was first an outpost of Spain, then Mexico and,
finally, the United States.
Born on October 4, 1920 in Del Carbon,
Colorado, Frank was the second eldest of eight children, two of whom died as
babies. Juan Silvano (Gertrude) Martinez, Helen Mary (Garfield) Hurtado
Martinez, and Antonio Gilberto “Tony” (Ernestine) Martinez; as well as brothers-in-law,
Moses Cordova and Frank Velarde, also preceded him in death. His sisters, Della
Marie Martinez Velarde (Huerfano County, Colorado) and Rachel Linda Martinez
Cordova (Tustin, California), mourn their brother’s death, as do his numerous
nieces and nephews.
Raised to be a rancher, Frank learned to
break in wild horses, toil in the fields, and help run the extensive Martinez
ranches in Huerfano County, Colorado. There are none who work harder and
possess such a broad range of skills as do ranchers. As a child, he attended a nearby,
one-room country school and, later, a larger school at Turner Mining Camp. His
sisters, Rachel and Della, remember him as a good big brother, who always took
care of his younger siblings. In addition to being a rancher, Frank worked in
the Turner Mine.
Frank married Maria Stella Romero in
Raton, New Mexico, on July 5, 1940. As newlyweds, Frank and Stella lived in an adobe
home on the family ranch on the Huerfano prairie. For a time, they shared the
house with his brother, Silvan, and sister-in-law, Gertrude, but later moved to
an apartment above his parents’ grocery store on Main Street in Walsenburg.
Frank and Stella then moved to Pueblo,
where he first worked at the Pueblo Ordnance Depot. Later, he was a construction
worker for Sproul Homes in Colorado Springs and worked in the concrete business
with his nephew, Abraham Martinez. Frank and Stella raised their family—Viola,
Robert, Frankie, and Louis—in Pueblo, first on 10th Street on the east side
near Spann Elementary School, and then on the south side on Abriendo Avenue in
a lovely two-story wooden house. They were faithful to their Catholic Church,
but taught their children not to judge others’ religions, that God is God. They said the rosary, every
night. Frank taught his children right from wrong behavior and that there were
consequences for both. He provided an example of a good work ethic. His son,
Robert, says that though his father was strict, he always felt secure and loved,
a sense of being part of an intact family. As little as the family had in
material possessions, Frank always was willing to help and give of his time,
always glad to see his loved ones. He learned generosity from his mother,
Martha.
After their daughter Viola’s family
moved to California, Frank and Stella followed them in 1968. Frank worked at both
Fort Irwin and the Marine Corps Supply Depot in Barstow, California. He built
tanks, jeeps, and M55 Howitzers during the Viet Nam War. He retired on November
25, 1974. Active in their Catholic Church parish, Frank was one of the founders
of the Cursillo movement in Barstow during the 1970s. Returning from a family
trip to Colorado, Stella had a stroke in Needles, California, but lived for
many more years. Frank proved his worth as a husband and compassionate human
being by his daily kind deeds, helping his wife. He was patient and loving.
When talking on the phone with his brother and sisters, their voices were
tender and warm.
In 1975, Frank and Stella moved back to
Walsenburg, where Frank helped his father, as well as his wife. Creative and
resourceful, Frank could fix almost anything with duct tape, screwdriver,
hammer, baling wire—and more duct tape.
Frank had many friends in Walsenburg, and he also welcomed extended
family, when they came to visit from out of town. His nephew, Matthew, fondly
remembers the many times his Uncle Frank invited him to play poker at Grandpa’s
house, poker games that might last as long as eight hours. Grandchildren often
were greeted with, Let’s go to Tes’ and
get ice cream cones, and then later treated with the newest goodies,
whether cookies, snack-pack puddings, or Ding Dongs. Adult relatives were
welcomed with a lunch at Furr’s Fresh Buffet.
Stella died on September 3, 1983. A
further tragedy was the later death of their beloved son, Frankie, on January
24, 2002. Years after Stella and Frankie died, Frank moved to Albuquerque to be
near his son, Robert, and Robert’s children. Louis and Viola’s family regularly
drove from Pueblo to New Mexico to visit their father and grandfather. However,
due to proximity, Bob’s family had the opportunity and privilege of spending more
time with him, during Frank’s last years, when they closely coordinated his
care. The blessing that is The Garland Home in Albuquerque is where Francisco
Esias Martinez died in his bed surrounded by love. The family is grateful for
Naomi Jojola and all of Frank’s other caregivers.
Throughout Frank’s many moves, he
carried with him a treasure—a picture his grandson, Gabriel, drew of two peach-colored
birds sitting on a tree branch.
Frank Martinez would finish this story
of his life, as he often ended all conversations with loved ones,
I
love you. Always.
The children of Frank Martinez are Viola
Martha (Donald) Romero; Robert Aaron Victor (Peggy) Martinez; Frank Nathaniel “Frankie”
Martinez, Jr. (deceased); Louis Michael (Margy Frantz) Martinez; and a baby who
died at birth. All were born in Colorado.
Frank’s
grandchildren are numerous: ♥ Viola’s children: Donna (Everett King) Romero, Fran
(Mike) Barbera, Robert “Bo” (Pam) Romero, and Selena (Glen) Jacobsen; ♥ Robert’s
children: John (Becky) Martinez, Victoria “Vickie” Martinez, Robert Aaron
(Steffani) Martinez, Joseph (Kelly) Martinez, Ruth Martinez (deceased), Jordan
Martinez (deceased), and Meghan Martinez; ♥ Frank Jr.’s children: Gabriel (Janet)
Martinez, Wayne (Jessi) Martinez, Frances (Matthew) Walmer, Lynn Medina, and Odel
Medina; ♥ and Louis’s children: Timothy (Rosalie) Martinez and Louis (Lindy) Martinez,
Jr.
Frank‘s great-grandchildren are: ♥ Fran’s
children: Mallory (Zach) Fagerstedt, Lauren (Aaron) Krakow, and Olivia Navarro;
♥ Bo’s children: Cameron (Rachel) Romero, Audrey Shipley, Trevor Romero, and
Victoria “Tory” Romero; ♥ Selena’s daughters: Abby and Lucy Jacobsen; ♥
Victoria “Vickie’s” daughter: Madison Martinez; ♥ Robert Aaron’s daughter: Layla
Martinez; ♥ Joseph’s daughter: Ana Martinez; ♥ Meghan’s sons: Esias and Ezekial
Martinez; ♥ Lynn’s son: Alexander (Danielle) Medina; ♥ Odel’s children: Adriel,
Nick, and Alexandra; ♥ Gabriel’s son: Warren Martinez; ♥ Wayne’s daughter:
Kayleigh Martinez; ♥ Frances’ sons: Jesus Sena (deceased), Stephen Marquez, and
Julian Marquez; ♥ Timothy’s children:
Marissa, Cole, and Bobby Martinez; ♥ and Louis, Jr.’s son: Reid
Martinez.
Frank was blessed to live to have great-great
grandchildren: ♥ Mallory’s daughter, Isabella Fagerstedt; ♥ Lauren’s children: Aria
and Christian Krakow; ♥ Cameron’s daughter: Reagan; ♥ Alexander’s son: Mason
Medina; ♥ and Warren’s children: Emrick and Evelyn Martinez.
Obituary
written by Frank’s niece, Karen Cordova, with extensive help from the families
of Viola Romero (especially Viola, Donna, and Fran Barbera), Robert Martinez, Lori
Martinez (former spouse of Frankie Martinez), and Louis Martinez.
