Tony Martinez

Tony Martinez was born in Cleveland, New Mexico on June 27, 1928. He died on January 2, 2021 in Wheatridge, Colorado at the Collier Hospice Center.

He spent his childhood and teen years caring for the family's livestock which included pigs and goats. His love of riding the horses bareback and jumping over fences gave him stories to share for a lifetime.
In his twenties, he moved to Colorado for work. One evening with his friends he went to a dance at the Armory in Evans Colorado. It was here that he met his lifelong love Elizabeth Delao. Married for 54 years they would raise six children together.

They spent much of their time at Our Lady Mother of the Catholic Church attending mass every Sunday and helping when the church needed them. Tony would spend his getaways fishing in many lakes in Colorado and hunting for elk and deer. He joyful shared his stories of the fish he caught and hunting adventures. These excursions provided many meals for his family.

He was an incredibly hard worker and never missed a day of work except for a family emergency. He was employed at a meat packing house (Excel Country Fresh Meats/Cargill) for 25 years in Denver. After he retired from there and he went on to work at the Rose Hill Cemetery as their gardener and for Adams 14 school district as part of their cleaning crew.

He was a wonderful father and grandfather. He enjoyed making us all laugh with funny faces and being silly. When any of us needed his help, he was quick to drop everything to come to our rescue. Always right there to lend a hand and a smile.

Tony was a masterful gardening. His entire family got to enjoy fresh vegetables every year because of his gifts and talents. Green chili, cucumbers, tomatoes, and the Halloween pumpkins were always a bonus.

He is survived by this children, Hope Martinez, Ramona Ruybal (Denny), Theresa Heffenger (Pepe), Rachel Martinez. Grandchildren, Jessica Aragon, Toni Aragon, Joseph Aragon, Joshua Martinez (Shilo), Amy Saltzman (Jon), Denny Jr Ruybal (Brittany), Carlos Ruybal (Laura), Samantha Manning, Rachel Manning, Leon Manning (Karla), Isaiah Heffenger.

Greeting him in Heaven is Nestora (Medina) Martinez (Mother) Eli Martinez (Father) Elizabeth Martinez (Wife), Susie Aragon (Daughter), Richard Martinez (Son), Eli Manning (Grandson).

He will be very missed by all of us.

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