Carol Sue Lilly Martinez was born on September 5, 1947 in Matewan, West Virginia to Karl Patrick and Sally Nellie Curry Lilly. She left this world too soon and stepped into the arms of Jesus on September 19, 2019 after years of suffering from COPD, emphysema, and heart failure.
Carol Sue was active in Job’s Daughters throughout school. She graduated from Carbon High School in 1965. While she knew her sweetheart in school, they didn’t date until later. Carol Sue married Pat Eutimio Martinez on July 24, 1966 in Winnemucca, Nevada, where her father’s company was working at the time.
Carol Sue was an incredibly talented beautician, operating her own shop in Price and Hiawatha for years. They had their best April Fools’ joke arrive in the form of twins – Patrick and Jolene in 1969 and were pleasantly surprised when another set of twins, Shawn and Shaunna, arrived in June 1971.
Carol Sue took great pride in raising her children. When her children were older, she returned to school at CEU to complete her Associates Degree. Soon after she became a favorite substitute teacher where most will remember her as “Sarge.” Carol Sue didn’t put up with anything and enjoyed working with difficult students. She spent years working at Carbon High and at Mont Harmon Junior High, where she loved every moment of it.
Carol Sue instilled a love of Lord and in the outdoors in their family. They spent every chance they were able to hunting, fishing, and camping with their family until Carol Sue’s health wouldn’t permit it. There are many cherished memories in the times they spent with their family exploring new areas and old favorites. Even on weekends when camping they were sure to return in time for church on Sunday morning. They have enjoyed sharing what Jesus has done with everyone they meet.
The family has spent many day trips exploring the Swell and fossil hunting everywhere they went. Carol Sue was active in many digs, including in areas such as the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and in helping recover the Huntington Mammoth. Pat and Carol Sue helped create the Utah Friends of Paleontology (UFOP) club for the state of Utah, where Carol Sue was the first secretary.
Carol Sue wanted a large family, always wanting six kids, and eventually her dream came true. Pat and Carol Sue raised two of their grandchildren and took great pride in the ability to spend more time with their children and grandchildren as they got older.
Carol Sue didn’t enjoy cooking as much as her mother, but she still left an imprint on all of us through her crispy baked stuffing bars and her biscuits and gravy – so thick a fork could stand up in it! She made the best fried potatoes, pancakes, and pinto beans.
Carol Sue was a strong-willed and stubborn individual, but her love for her family and the Lord surpassed all other things. She wanted each and every person to know that Jesus loves them – Carol Sue led many people to Christ by simply loving and sharing the gospel. Carol Sue had a personal relationship with Jesus and loved studying the scriptures. She enjoyed sharing all that she learned with her friends and family.
Carol Sue would want us to know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, if we know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. As a family we take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering and is having an incredible reunion with our Mama/Granny Sally, Grandma, and Grandpas. We know that we will see her again someday.
Carol Sue is survived by her husband, Pat (Price, Utah), her children – Patrick (Kelly), Fort Worth, Texas; Jolene (Laura), Denver, Colorado; Shawn, Price, Utah; Shaunna (Jim), Price, Utah; Faith (David), Washington, D.C.; Matthew (Gabby), Grand Junction, Colorado; her grandchildren, David (Dorothy), Minnesota; Kelsey, Oklahoma; her great-grandchildren and brother, Karl Lee, Georgia; her sisters-in-law – Effie and Celia; her brother in law – Amadeo; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Karl Patrick and Sally Lilly; her in-laws – Senaida and Joe Martinez; many aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers/sisters-in-law, and friends.
Please join the family in celebrating Carol Sue’s life on Monday, September 23, 2019 at the Price Chapel-CMA. A viewing for Carol Sue will be held from 12-2 pm with services beginning at 2pm, both at the Price Chapel (611 W Price River Drive). Graveside services to follow at Cliffview Cemetery. The family invites all who wish to share special memories of Carol Sue to a lunch after gravesides services at Price Chapel.
The family would like to thank Pinnacle Nursing and Rehab Center for their kindness and care.