Leonard Martinez

Leonard R. Martinez, age 71, a resident of Alcalde, passed away at home on August 9, 2017, following a courageous battle with cancer. Leonard was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bernardeta and Filiberto Martinez; his grandparents, Josephina and Alexandro Gallegos; and his siblings Joseph, Richard, Filiberto Jr., Donald Ray, John, and Patsy Martinez, and Marjorie Young. Leonard R. Martinez was born in Española on November 16, 1945. He attended Española Valley High School and Vocational School. He worked 10 years as a carpenter and was a member of the Laborers International Union. He then went on to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory until his retirement in 2006. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War in which he served in the army. He also received training to be a certified mechanic.  He loved spending time with his loving wife and family. They enjoyed cruises and gambling trips together. He also loved fishing and having picnics with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed teaching his family to do all kinds of work themselves. He was always willing to help everyone with whatever they were working on. He will be greatly loved and missed everyday by those who were blessed to have him in their lives.   He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Mary Lou Martinez; son, Brain and wife Michelle of Alcalde; grandchildren, Brian Jr. and Gabrielle Martinez, and son Mark and husband Matthew of Albuquerque. He is also survived by his brother, Antonio D. Martinez and wife Carole of Illinois; aunts and uncles, Charlotte and husband Cipriano Martinez, John and wife Florence Gallegos, and Alex Gallegos all of Alcalde; sisters in law, Cora, Marie, and Diane Martinez of Alcalde, Lucy Martinez of Albuquerque, Isabel and husband Ross Olivas of El Llano, and Betty and husband Henry Pacheco of Santa Fe; and brothers in law, Herman Young of Alcalde, Elias and wife Marsha Quintana of Albuquerque, and Sam Quintana and fiancée Annette Chacon of Santo Niño. He is also survived by many loving Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at 6:30 pm, with a rosary to follow at 7:00 pm at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the San Juan Parish in Ohkay Owingeh, with the burial to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 12:45 p.m. Serving the family as pallbearers will be Elias, Thomas, and Sam Quintana, Ross Olivas, Henry Pacheco, and Ben Martinez. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bob Kotek and Sal Olguin. The family of Leonard R. Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory of the Espanola Valley.

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