Eloy Martinez

Eloy T. Martinez, 93, a resident of Espanola, and formerly of Cuarteles, completed his journey on this earth in the early evening of Wednesday, July 01, 2015 surrounded by his loving family.  Eloy was born on February 24, 1922 to Presciliano Sixto Martinez and Ignacita Madrid Martinez and raised in the small Village of Arroyo de Agua near Coyote, New Mexico along with his eleven  siblings. Eloy was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters: Sister Angela Martinez of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate; Angelica Roybal; Minnie Vigil and husband Teofilo; Julia Archuleta and husband Eudoro; Genoveva Olivas and husband Fidencio; his brothers:Elias Martinez and wife Susana; Vicente Martinez and wife Beatrice; Guillermo Martinez and wife Sidelia; Facundo Martinez and wife Emilia; Andres Martinez and wife Fedelina; and Zebedeo Martinez.  May they rest in peace.   At a very young age he was taken by his older brothers to herd sheep where he spent his summers, when he was not in school.  He enjoyed herding sheep and helping his parents up until the age of 22, when he met his soon to be wife, Eremita Martinez from Truchas, and they were married in February of 1945, settling in Cuarteles.  On April 27th, 1945 he was called into the Service during World War II and he joined the U.S. Navy, until his discharge in May of 1946.  Upon returning from the U.S. Navy, he went to work for a housing developer in Santa Fe, as an apprentice plasterer.  In October of that year he began working in Los Alamos for another builder.  Eloy also spent time working as a plasterer in Denver, and wherever he could find suitable employment to support his family, eventually returning to New Mexico.  In late 1959, he went into the drive-in restaurant business in Espanola as owner and manager of Eloy’s Big Burger until 1970, at which time he returned to the construction industry as proprietor of Rio Grande Lath and Plaster, retiring in 1990.  Eloy and Eremita were also very generous with their time, talent and treasure, helping as many as were in need, at any given time. Eloy suffered a tremendous loss at the passing of Eremita after a courageous battle with Cancer in June of 2001.  Eloy was a lifelong parishioner of Iglesia de La Santa Cruz, as well as an hermano de La Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, Morada de Santa Cruz; and a Third Order Lay Franciscan.  Eloy was proud to be the contractor to plaster the exterior of Iglesia de La Santa Cruz during the remodel in 1967, as well as the original plastering  of the interior of the church with tierra blanca.  In 2003 Eloy married Rosina T. Archuleta of Espanola, in the parish church he called home.  After a honeymoon trip to Costa Rica, they returned to Cuarteles. Together they were active in the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Espanola, where Rosina has been active as Adoration Co-ordinator, as well as participants in the Rio Arriba County Senior Citizens lunch program attending as often as possible, even when it meant going in his powerchair to the center and returning after lunch.  Eloy is survived by his loving wife, Rosina Martinez of the family home in Espanola; his son, Eloy S. Martinez and wife Miriam; Grandchildren, Monica Baca and Husband Terry; Christina Martinez, Ricardo Martinez and wife Therese; Adam Martinez and Fiancee Brianna; Wendy Rafael and husband Efrain; Katty Zamora  and husband Johan Madrigal; Jacqueline Oropeza and husband George, and 12 Great-Grandchildren.  Eloy is also survived by Rosina’s children: Joseph F. Medina; Dianne E. Medina-Barbosa and husband Fernando; Gregory C. Medina; Victoria Medina Luviano; Rosina Kathy Medina; and Stephen Ray Trujillo and wife Janet; Grandchildren: Daniel Barbosa and wife Natalie; Leslie Barbosa; Christina Barbosa; Stephen Ray Trujillo, Jr. and wife Kristi; Zachary Trujillo; Roque Luviano; Adrian Castillo; Vicky Castillo; Erica Castillo; Jose Castillo and wife Adrianne; Mendie Trujillo; Ernest Archuleta; Heather Archuleta; Justina Borrego and 16 more Great-grandchildren.  In addition, Eloy is survived by his sisters-in-law Frutosa Martinez; Dominican Sister, Dolorita Martinez and Candelaria Montoya; brothers-in-law: Vicente Roybal; Mardoqueo Martinez and wife Josie; and LeroyVigil and wife Flora; special friend, Andrea Olvera; several nieces, nephews, God-children, endless numbers of friends and acquaintances. Public visitation will begin on Monday, July 6, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Espanola, with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Public visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home.  A second rosary will be recited on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Rev. Fr. Millan Garcia Officiating, burial to follow at 12:45 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with full Military Honors. The family of Eloy Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley.

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