Anita Martinez

Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 PM on Friday, January 15, 2021 at the Elliott Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 US Hwy 277 S.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, January 16, 2021 in the Elliott Hamil Funeral Home Chapel with Eddie Puga, Pastor of Ambler Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Elliott Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery under the direction of Elliott Hamil Funeral Home.

Anita was born June 17, 1949 in Abilene, Texas. She was the 5th child born to Benito and Isabel Jimenez. She married Manuel Martinez, August 21, 1965 in Abilene, Texas. She attended Fannin Elementary and had to leave school to begin working at the age of 12. She and Manuel had two children, Sylvia Martinez and Richard Martinez, both of Abilene Texas.

Through the years, Anita went back to school to show her kids the importance of education. She always worked hard, held many different jobs and touched many people. She started as a waitress at the Farolito Restaurant. She went on to work at Langford’s Sewing, Timex, and the Pancake House. She worked over 30 years with several different school districts. Eventually, she retired from AISD in 2009. She was a member of the Ambler Baptist Church.

Anita had a very kind heart and enjoyed helping others every chance she could. She always welcomed family and service members who were away from home at her table. Everyone was part of the family. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandsons. She would often tell her nieces and nephews that her name was “pretty Aunt Anita.” She was known for making egg rolls and fried rice every Christmas Eve. She hosted many large family gatherings and made the men wash dishes at Thanksgiving. Anita loved game shows and American Ninja Warriors. If she beat you at the Wheel of Fortune, you were washing the dishes.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Benito and Isabel; her brothers, Benito Jimenez Jr, Jesse Jimenez, Jose Jesse Jimenez and Antonio Jimenez; and her sisters, Gloria Portillo, Isabel Jimenez Martinez and Amelia Rosas.

Anita is survived by her husband of 55 years, Manuel Martinez, and her children Sylvia Martinez of Abilene, and Richard and wife Juanita Martinez of Abilene, Texas. She has three grandsons and two granddaughter-in laws that she loved very much: Richard and Perla Martinez of Ft. Worth, Lorenzo and Brittney Martinez of Abilene, and Michael Martinez of Abilene. Her brothers and sisters, Marcus Jimenez Sr. of Mansfield, Ruth and Cande Flores of Abilene, Rebecca and Justo Velasco of Dallas, Robert and Petra Jimenez of Arlington, Linda Ramon of Burleson, Connie and Al Guerrero of Abilene, Joe and Christina of Mansfield, Texas; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Go to https:/www.facebook.com/114420481950387 for livestream of service on Saturday. Visitation will not be livestreamed.