Obituary: Joan Teresita Martinez-Terry

A visitation for Joan Teresita Martinez-Terry, 75, of Portales, will be 8 AM to 8 PM on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at Wheeler Mortuary. A rosary will be held at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at St. Helen Catholic Church and Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10:00 AM, with Fr. Francisco Carbajal officiating. Cremation burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery. Since Joan touched so many lives, her honorary pallbearers will be her family, friends and co-workers.

Joan Martinez-Terry was born on December 19, 1948, in Villanueva, New Mexico to the home of Rita Guadalupe (Chacon) and Modesto Montano Martinez and moved to Portales shortly after her birth. Joan passed away on May 17, 2024, in Portales, New Mexico.

Joan graduated from Portales High School in 1966 and later attended Clovis Community College. She served Portales for 43 years as City Clerk. But it didn't stop there, she shared her knowledge from translating paperwork, filling out forms and directing people to various resources. She loved her job and helping people was her strong suit. She never turned anyone away who needed an answer to a problem. Her kindness and knowledge will surely be missed. They say wisemen come along once in a generation and she was this generation's wiseman.

Joan is survived by her son, Manuel Martinez-Terry of Portales; her grandsons, Jerek Ham and Bobby Terry; daughter-in-law, Sandy Terry; her brother and sister-in-law, Pete and Sandra Martinez all of Portales, and several nieces and nephews of Portales.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Terry; her parents, Modesto and Rita Martinez; step son, Joseph Terry; step daughter, Gail Terry; maternal grandmother, Jacoba Chacon; paternal grandparents, Leonor Martinez and Antonia Martinez, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales. 575-356-4455, wheelermortuary.net