Samuel Martinez Sr., a loving husband, father, grandpa, buelo, brother, uncle and friend passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on November 24, 2024. He was 78 years old.

Samuel outlived several life-threatening situations. The doctor would joke and tell him, "Mr. Martinez, you should be dead. You must have 9 lives!" He was a resilient man. He was a force to be reckoned with. He taught us that your word is like a down payment. Samuel left us with a tremendous void in our hearts.

Samuel was born to Emiterio and Cruz Martinez on June 30, 1946, in Kersey, Colorado. He was the 6th son of nine brothers and one sister. His education was cut short as he was pulled out of school in the second grade to become a migrant worker with his family. Therefore, he learned how to work at a young age. These short comings, however, would turn him into the businessman that he became to be. They would travel to California to pick oranges and lemons, to Indiana for cucumbers and tomatoes, then to Idaho and Colorado for potatoes. Once he was 13, he started helping in the shearing pen, picking wool. A year later at the age of 14, he began traveling alone to South Dakota with a shearing rig out of Rocksprings, Texas. These men eventually taught him how to shear a sheep. Since he was so young, alone, didn't have a bank account or family to send money to, he would keep his earning in his sock. Upon his return to Texas, he began to help Salome Martinez and Alfred Menchaca's shearing rigs in Mason.

At the ripe age of 16, he met who later would become his forever best friend and life partner, Griselda Avalos. After turning 18, his older brother Guadalupe, gifted him a 1955 Ford Fairline for his birthday. In this car, he would drive to Plainview, Texas to whisk away the love of his life. They eloped that day on July 14, 1964.

Together, they decided to plant their roots and call Mason, Texas, home. They had four children, Delia Martinez of Mason, Samuel P. Martinez Jr. and companion Diane Soto of Mason, Elsa Martinez of Mason and Amanda Cruz Martinez and partner Emanuel Reyna of San Antonio. He had 10 grandchildren (Cass, Bianka, Kady, Michaela, Samuel, Emanuel, Navaya, Soyla, Gabriela and Vincent) and 9 great grandchildren (Lilah, Kyleigh, Lennox, Lawson, Mathias, Lilianna, Braxton, Hadley, and Topanga) all who have brought the greatest joy to his and Griselda's life.

While supporting a family, Samuel started hauling hay, cutting and hauling cedar, mesquite and oak wood all over Mason and the surrounding counties. He eventually inherited Enrique (Camaron) Menchaca's shearing rig and ranch contracts making him captain of his own rig. Years of hard work allowed him to support his children through college. As years went on, he retired and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He and Griselda spent a lot of evenings at the bingo halls, watching Dallas Cowboys games at his brother's houses, attending bar b que's (although he wasn't the pit master kind) and picking pecans. Samuel loved watching the Punchers and Cowgirls, especially, when his grandsons and granddaughters wore the purple and white. Just like his brothers, Sam was a jokester and always enjoyed a good laugh with a Budweiser and cigarette in hand. He had many nieces and nephews that looked up to him and loved him like their own as well as had many, many friends. All the years of hard work eventually took a toll over his health. Samuel's legacy will live on through his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as he instilled morals, values and taught his family to most importantly, love.

Samuel is joined in heaven by his parents Emiterio Martinez and Cruz Lopez, stepfather Justo Lopez, in-laws Justo and Armandina Avalos, brother Pedro Martinez, stepbrothers, Juan and Lazaro Lopez, and various uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and brothers Frank Martinez, Casemiro Martinez of Mason. Elias and wife Josephine Martinez of Brady. Guadalupe and wife Maria of Denver, Colorado. Brother Raymond Lopez of Greeley, Colorado, Justo and wife Amy Lopez of Redfield, South Dakota. Joe and wife Andrea Lopez of Maple Grove, Minnesota. Sister Janie Lopez of Ft. Collins, Colorado and sister-in-law Rachel Martinez of Fredericksburg.

Visitation was held on Friday, November 29th from 5 to 7 pm at Mason Funeral Home followed by the Rosary.

The funeral mass was held at 11am at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment followed at Crosby Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net