Jennie William Martinez
May 8th, 1934 – November 20th, 2022
Jennie Williams Martinez died on November 20th, 2022, surrounded by her children and grandchildren that she loved so dearly. She was born in Van Houten, NM on May 8th, 1934, to Paul and Frances (Fernandez) Williams. Jennie was the oldest child; she cherished her parents and siblings. Jennie lost her mother at the age of ten, her Grandmother Victoria (Leal) Trujillo, and her Aunt Julia (Fernandez) Felix raised her with faith and love. Jennie was a true coal miner’s daughter, Van Houten, Brilliant # 2, and Dawson coal camps were her home. She shared her beautiful memories of life in the coal camps with her family. She always said her life as a teen in Dawson was special because everyone helped each other out, and there was a true sense of community. Her family moved to Raton when Dawson closed. In Raton, Jennie met and fell in love with Louis Martinez Sr., her husband of 52 years, together they raised eight children in Pasadena CA. Jennie worked for Pasadena Unified School District and St. Andrew’s Grammar school as a school nurse for over 45 years. She and Louie shared a deep love for music often recording songs and playing the guitar and piano with her father, her brother Albert, her children, and her grandchildren. She and Louie returned to Raton in 1992 after retiring. Jennie spent her life devoted to her family. She was a woman that lived by faith, always helping others, her home was always open and there was always a place at her table. Her kind and giving spirit was a blessing to her family, she touched the lives of all who knew her.
Jennie is proceeded in death: by her parents Frances (Fernandez) and Paul Williams, her spouse Louis Martinez Sr., son Kenneth Martinez, daughter-in-law Laura Fabia Martinez, sons-in-laws Lance Peterson, Kenneth Rutherford, grandparents Victoria (Leal) (Rudolph) Trujillo, Paublo Williams, Brothers Robert, Albert, Louis and Vincent Williams, Sister Ursula Shirley (Williams) (Robert) Lucero. Grandson Louis Martinez III, and Great Grandson Ethaniel Collins. Stepmother Regina Virgie (Cruz) Williams, and brother-in-law Tony Carrillo
Jennie is survived by her children Louis Martinez Jr.-El Monte CA, Andrew Martinez Sr-San Dimas, CA, Frances Shipley-Azusa CA, Sofia Peterson-Raton NM, Donna Rutherford-San Dimas CA, Glynis Martinez-San Dimas, CA, Julie Reyes (James)-Cherry Valley, CA., Uncle Rudolph (Leal) Trujillo-Raton, NM, sister Veronica (Williams) Carrillo-Covina CA and Rosalia Williams-Greeley CO. Brother Richard Williams- Pasadena CA. Sisters-in-law Julie Williams-Taos, NM and Amy Vargas-Aguilar, CO brother-in-law Preciliano Delatorre Pasadena CA, special niece Mary (Esquibel) Perez(Frank)-Pasadena, CA. 20-Grand Children: 39-Great Grandchildren, 6 Great-Great Grandchildren, and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Recitation of The Most Holy Rosary will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s Catholic Church recited by the Legion of Mary followed by The Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30 PM at St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Bill Woytavich as the Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Fairmont Cemetery.
