Nelson (Tinko) Jr. Age - 49 Rio Chama Martinez

Nelson (Tinko) Martinez Jr., 49, a resident of Rio Chama passed away on Monday, May 9, 2011 in Santa Fe. Nelson enjoyed all types of sports and especially boxing and wrestling. While in the military, he was a member of the Army boxing team. He enjoyed attending his niece, Monica Lovato’s professional boxing matches, and often sparred with Monica and gave her a lot of boxing tips. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time in the great outdoors, going for wood, tin work, dancing and listening to New Mexico Music and Mexican Music. Nelson was a carpenter and landscaper by trade. He did both, while resided in Taos, NM. He attended school in Santa Fe and Española and graduated from Española valley High School in 1979. Nelson joined the Army right out of high school, and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MI, and Fort Riley, KS. Nelson did some traveling while in the military, and also traveled to Mexico City. As a child he lived in California with his family. He also lived in Tacoma, WA; Santa Fe and Taos, NM. Nelson loved spending time in Rio Chama with his mother, brother, sister, nieces and nephews. Nelson was preceded in death by his father, Nelson Martinez Sr.; paternal grandparents, Acasio and Eusebia Martinez of Rio Chama, NM; maternal grandparents, Valentin and Elena Suazo of Abiquiu; uncle, Jerome Martinez of Rio Chama; aunts: Dora Suazo, Mary Martinez, Cordy Atencio and Bennie Ferran of Abiquiu, NM. Nelson is survived by his children: Jeremy “Bimb,” Billie Jo Martinez of Española; wife, Alice Martinez of Taos; step-daughter, Valerie Trujillo Garcia and grandson, Alejandro Trujillo of Albuquerque; Patricia Martinez of Española, the mother of his children; mother, Mercy Martinez; sisters: Marilyn Martinez Ortiz and husband Jerry, Carolyn Guillen both of Rio Chama, Mary Ninfa Lovato of Santa Fe; brother, Marvin Martinez and wife Edwina of Rio Chama; favorite cousins: Manuel and Amy Martinez and sons Joshua and David of Rio Chama; nieces & nephews: Monica Lovato, John Guillen, Jerome Martinez, Stephanie and Megan Martinez, Javier Diaz and Kristen Martinez; uncles: Valentin Suazo Jr. and wife Anna Marie of Springville, MD; Ramon Suazo of Abiquiu, Joe Martinez and wife Florence of Rio Chama; many other loving relatives and friends. Public visitation will be held on Friday, May 13, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Abiquiu, NM with burial to follow at St. Thomas Cemetery in Medanales with the following serving as pallbearers his nieces and nephews: Monica Lovato, John Guillen, Jerome Martinez, Stephanie and Megan Martinez and Javier Diaz; honorary pallbearers: Alejandro Trujillo, Kristen Martinez (his baby, Strawberry), Jestiny and Devon Martinez, Mikiaela Guillen (his baby, Dandelion), Lucas Martinez ( his, baby Luc). The family of Nelson (Tinko) Martinez Jr. have entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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