Gloria Martinez Garza

Gloria M. Garza, 80, of Houston, Texas, passed on to be with her Lord on April 20, 2020. She was born in Houston on December 17, 1939, to David and Mary Louise Martinez. Gloria is preceded in death by brothers Sammy Martinez and David (Sonny) Martinez, Jr.

Gloria is survived by her sister, Barbara Anguiano and husband Tony, her cousin, Becky Reyes, and 5 children, Naomi Villarreal and husband Johnny, Eugene G. Villarreal, Jr. and wife Shay, Victoria Villarreal Ferrington and deceased husband Robert, Arthur Villarreal Wells and husband Ben, and Alejandro Garza and wife Paula.

Gloria has nine grandchildren, David Wright & wife Evelyn, Patricia Wright & husband Guillermo, Buford (BeBe) Lively & wife Tina, Tyler Atkins & wife Rhonda, Keith Villarreal, Christina Johnson & husband David, Rebecca Villarreal, Steven Villarreal, and James Villarreal.

Plus 17 great-grandchildren, Naomi Pettin, Crystal Jimenez, Shyann Almazan & husband Jesus, Brent Lively, Sydney Wright, Liza Pettin, Jeremy Lively, Trevan Lively, Victoria Lively, Ethan Atkins, Taylor Atkins, Avery Atkins, Natalie Atkins, Wyatt Johnson, Hudson Atkins, Laila Johnson, and Audrey Atkins. And 3 great-great-grandchildren, Braxton Lively, Isaiah D. Almazan, and Logan Lively.

Gloria attended Sherman Elementary, Marshall Jr. High and Jefferson Davis High School in Houston. She was raised at a young age by her paternal grandmother, Victoria Martinez. She was a nurse for 15 years and then started a new career in the late ‘70s as a Film Editor/Film Director for KHTV Ch. 39 and KTRK Ch. 13 in Houston for 22 years. Gloria was a strong, independent woman who never lost her faith through all of life’s adversities, and is now at peace. She was a devout Catholic Christian and amassed a large collection of Christian books to “give me strength and try to live a better life.”

Due to gathering restrictions, family and friends are encouraged to view the service and burial via the Facebook page of Forest Park Lawndale.

2 Tim 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."