Celia Martinez passed away on the afternoon of November 28, 2021, of complications of pneumonia, with her family at her side. Born on May 13, 1937, the fourth of nine children to Jose A. and Senaida Valdez-Martinez, in Galina New Mexico. Two of her brothers died, in childhood, when the two of them and Celia came down with pertussis. The family moved to Price during Celia’s childhood where she attended Carbon High through the 11th grade. She later attended night classes to complete her high school diploma at East Carbon High, after raising four children.
On August 6, 1955 she married the love of her life, Gene Martinez at Notre Dame De Lourdes parish in Price. She was an excellent homemaker and thoroughly enjoyed raising four children in Sunnyside, Price and Moab. Celia was an active Roman Catholic; she served Good Shepherd parish in East Carbon as a CCD (Catechism) educator, minister of communion and was named the parish “Woman of the Year” in 1997. She was also an avid golfer and was once the Sunnyside Women Golf Association Champion of the Year. Celia moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming from 2010 to 2019. She loved spending time with family and friends, old and new alike. She adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed watching them all grow up.
She loved to cook and made the best tortillas and chili verde. She had a keen fashion sense and loved to shop and pamper herself at the salon, with her daughters and granddaughters, or alone. She enjoyed traveling, playing the lotto and even a trip out to Wendover. She was a dessert-first kind of girl and never met a cookie she didn’t like. She was a fun-loving soul that definitely enjoyed people.
Celia is survived by four children, Ronnie (Ric Durant), Eagle Mountain, Utah, Larry (Rosie) Martinez, Rock Springs, Wyoming, Ralph (Brent) Pace-Martinez, SLC, Utah, and Patty Martinez of Rock Springs, Wyoming; brothers, Pat and Amedeo, both of Price, Utah; and sister, Effie Martinez Roberts of SLC, Utah; eight grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; as well as step-grandchildren; and many, many nephews and nieces and good life-long friends.
Celia is preceded in death by her husband Gene, (2002); parents; and in-law parents as well; brothers, Joe F., Phil, and Little Joe; brothers-in-law, Bobby, Nick and JoJo Martine; and sister-in-law, Betty Martinez Medina; as well as her aforementioned bothers in childhood (2).
Funeral Mass, Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church. Vigil Service (Holy Rosary), Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. Family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the services on both days. Committal, Cliffview Cemetery, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell’s Funeral Home where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.