Joe Martinez

Joe “Meliquias”, age 84 was born in Taos, New Mexico June 16, 1933 to parents Epifanio Martinez and Docitea Cordova. After his wife of 61 years Elsie who passed on Christmas Day he immediately felt grief and sadness and passed with a broken heart 6 days later.

Dad loved his beer, celebrations for him to pass on New Year’s Eve December 31, 2017 was so fitting for him. He was a very proud marine. He served in the United States Marine Corps in 1950. He was a Gun Solley CWO USMC officer in charge. His occupation was in the construction field. He owned his own shoe repair shop. “West Side Shoe Repair”. and also worked in the janitorial industry. His all-time favorite job was working at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. After retiring he moved to St. George and along with our mom devoted themselves to being the most amazing, loving, caring grandparents to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his 6 children, Joyce Archuleta, Debbie (Karl) Hoppe, Patrick (Kathy) Martinez, Melvin (Barbara) Martinez, Peggy (Karyn) Martinez, and Brenda Martinez. He has 9 grandchildren, and 18 great- grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his wife Elsie, his mother (who died at child birth), his father, his infant son Manuel, 4 brothers and 1 sister.

Our dad will be missed more than he will ever know. We love you dad. He would say to us, don’t worry.

Marines don’t die, they just fade away.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11:00am at the West Side Baptist Church, 2299 West 2000 North, St. George, Utah 84770.  A viewing will be from 9:30-10:45am at the same location.  Interment at Tonaquint Cemetery