Anita Martinez

Anita Aurora Martinez was born in La Junta, Colorado, on March 15, 1937, to Felipe B. Gonzales and Maria A. Gonzales. She passed away peacefully in Alamosa, Colorado, on January 26, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. She lived a full life of eighty-seven years.

Anita's life was filled with love, service, and adventure. She grew up in New Edition in La Junta and attended La Junta High School.  She was married to her beloved husband, Jose Martinez, in 1959. For eight years, she proudly served in the Civil Service at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a military spouse for twenty-one years, she embraced the challenges and joys of military life, traveling to Europe and raising her children during Jose's two tours in Korea and through the Vietnam conflict.

Anita's passions included painting, exploring her family genealogy, and cheering on her favorite teams, the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Rockies. She especially cherished watching "Baby John Elway" play.

Anita was preceded in death by her father and mother, Felipe B. Gonzales and Maria A. Gonzales; her brothers, Robert Gonzales and John B. Gonzales; her sisters, Susie Gonzales Gibber and Mary Gonzales Fernandez; and seven siblings who died in infancy.

Anita is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, Jose Martinez; her sister, Nesterita Gonzales Rivera; her children, Thomas M. Martinez (wife Bonny), Hilario A. Martinez, JoAnn D. Halterman (husband Karl, deceased), and Maria H. Mendoza (husband Domingo); eight grandchildren, Frank, Alexandria, Isaac, Anita, Rita, Paula, Steven, and Gabriel; and twelve great-grandchildren.

Anita will be remembered as a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt. Her warmth, kindness, and dedication to her loved ones will forever be celebrated.

A celebration of Anita's life will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa, CO, on January 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." - Psalm 23