Celia Martinez

Celia Martinez, 87 a longtime Fort Sumner resident passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Clovis, NM. She was born October 20, 1936, north of Lake Sumner in Los Ojitos, NM to the home of Adolph and Regina Lopez. Celia grew up in Fort Sumner where she attended and graduated from high school.

She married Juan Martinez and moved to Lubbock, TX. She returned to Fort Sumner in the early 1970's. Celia worked at the Fort Sumner School cafeteria, later worked as a homemaker and as a housekeeper for several Fort Sumner families. She was an Avon salesperson for a time. Her family remembers she also worked gathering fruit and picked cotton in the Fort Sumner valley.

Celia enjoyed embroidering, was a talented seamstress who always kept her children's clothing in good repair. She completed puzzle books, and enjoyed watching game shows especially the Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune.

Celia is preceded in death by her parents Adolph and Regina Lopez, three sisters Della Lopez, Lauteria Pacheco, Rita Baca, one brother Joe Lopez and two grandsons, Leroy Segura Jr., in 2006, Francis Martinez in 2023, and the father of her children, Juan Martinez.

Survivors include a daughter Sandra Segura and husband Leroy of Clovis, four sons Sandy Martinez and wife Margie of Fort Sumner, Randy Martinez and wife Dorothy of Fort Sumner, Gabriel Baca of Fort Sumner and Andy Martinez of Clovis. Also surviving are her siblings, two brothers Sam Lopez of Santa Rosa, Boni Lopez of Albuquerque, one sister Lucy Gonzales of Albuquerque and a niece raised as a sister Lydia Moreno of Lubbock, Texas. Celia is survived by grandchildren Michele Martinez (Kevin) of Lubbock, TX, Sadie Martinez of Fort Sumner, Jake Segura (Reyes) of Albuquerque, Symon Segura of Clovis, great-grandchildren Andrew Martinez of Lubbock, Angelito Lucero of Fort Sumner, Santos Lucero of Fort Sumner, Jordan Martinez, Jacob Martinez, Nicole Martinez of Roswell, and Luca Saavedra-Segura of Albuquerque.

Viewing and visitation for family and friends will be Monday, from 1pm to 4:30pm at the Chavez Funeral Home. The casket will be open from 9am until 9:45 am on Tuesday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, First and Richards Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Holy Rosary will be recited at 6:00 pm Monday, May 20, 2024, from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner with her son, Gabriel Baca leading the prayers. The funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, May 21, 2024, from the church with Father Moses Nwankwo officiating. Interment will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandchildren, Jake Segura, Symon Segura, Andrew Martinez, Angelito Lucero, Santos Lucero, Kevin Martinez, Michelle Martinez, and Sadie Martinez. Honorary bearers will be all her remaining grandchildren, family, and friends.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute, share a favorite memory or sign the guestbook, go to http://www.chavezfuneralhome.com.