Kristin R. Martinez

Kristin Rochelle (Lawless) Martinez, born September 6, 1976, in Fresno, California, and a resident of Clovis, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 11, 2026, at the age of 49, without pain or suffering. Her spirit is at peace, and her body is now at rest, leaving behind a family, friends, and a community forever changed by her presence.

For 20 years, Kristin was the devoted wife and best friend of Edward Martinez Jr. Together for 26 years, theirs was a partnership built on deep love, loyalty, laughter, and mutual respect. In two decades of marriage, they only had two arguments—and she won both. Kristin and Edward shared a unique bond: there were no secrets between them, and they openly shared their dreams, hopes, fears, and all the possibilities life might bring. Their love was open, deep, and enduring, and everyone who knew them could see that their partnership could handle anything life brought their way. Kristin cherished spending fun, quality time with Eddie, and their life together was filled with warmth, humor, and shared adventure. She was his confidante, his partner in all things, and the heart of their family, bringing joy and love to every moment they shared.

Kristin was the kind of person who faced life’s challenges head-on. She navigated difficult moments with strength, made hard decisions, when necessary, never gave up when times were tough, and consistently showed up for those she loved. Her courage, resilience, and unwavering devotion to her family were evident to everyone who knew her.

Above all else, Kristin loved her children deeply. She was a proud and devoted mother to her son, Thomas Scott Martinez, who is currently attending college and studying construction, and to her twin teenage daughters, Abigail Grace Martinez and Brooke Peyton Martinez. Her children brought her immense joy, and she would do anything for them. She supported them wholeheartedly in all their school events and extracurricular activities, celebrating their achievements and being there for them through every challenge. Kristin encouraged them to be themselves, admired their courage, and nurtured their individual interests. She shared her interest in Godzilla and King Kong with her son, Thomas, and shared her love of dance with her daughters, Abigail and Brooke. She taught them the joys of cooking and shared countless moments of laughter, learning, and connection with all three of her children. Her love, guidance, and steadfast support shaped their lives, and she treasured every moment of watching them grow.

Kristin dedicated over twenty years of service to the Fresno Unified School District, including many years as a fourth-grade teacher at Bullard Talent K-8 School, which she considered her second home. Teaching was in her blood as a Lawless, and she carried that calling into every classroom she entered. Kristin attended Slater Elementary School, Cooper Middle School, and Fresno High School before continuing her education at Fresno City College, California State University, Fresno, and National University. She cared deeply for her students—advocating for them, encouraging them, and holding them to high standards because she truly believed in their potential. Teaching was not just her profession; it was part of who she was, and her legacy lives on through the countless students whose lives she touched.

Kristin loved to enjoy life and make the most of every moment. She cherished trips to the beach, Carnival cruises, and visits to Las Vegas, finding joy in every adventure and planning each one with care. On cruises, she especially enjoyed people-watching, reading books, and savoring a margarita in hand. She had a special love for the movie Jaws and a lifelong fascination with

sharks—especially the great white and the megalodon. She enjoyed rewatching favorite shows and films, including Gilmore Girls, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Harry Potter. Kristin also loved music from the 1980s through the 2000s and enjoyed attending concerts with her husband, sharing the excitement of live performances together. She also enjoyed puzzles, crafting with her Cricut machine, sewing, going on walks, building Legos, and mentioning pop culture references whenever she had the chance with friends and family.

She found comfort and happiness in life’s simple favorites: fries, mashed potatoes with meat gravy, various cheeseburgers, chicken strips and fries, chili spaghetti, medium-rare steak, teppanyaki, and absolutely anything with chocolate. A Gold Peak sweet iced tea or a Starbucks drink was rarely far from her side.

Family meant everything to Kristin. She deeply loved and greatly admired her father, Tom Lawless, whose strength, character, and presence meant the world to her. She is also survived by her stepmother, Debbie Lawless, and was warmly welcomed into her stepmother’s family, enjoying many family gatherings and celebrations together. Kristin lovingly remembered her mother, Terry Lynn McEwin, who passed away in 2022, and carried her memory close to her heart. She was proud of her Lawless and McEwin roots and later warmly embraced the Meyers family as her own. Kristin cherished many beloved relatives from the Barnett, Chavez, Frisbie, Mueller-Hernandez, Mosholder, Pearce, Walker, Williams, Woods, and Ybarra families. She was especially close with her many cousins, including those who had traveled far from Fresno. Kristin welcomed all family and friends as her own and delighted in studying her family history, honoring the generations before her, and ensuring their stories were remembered. She loved and treasured every member of her extended family, even though it is impossible to list everyone individually.

Kristin will be remembered as a strong, loving, and fiercely devoted woman—a mother who gave endlessly, a wife who loved deeply, a teacher who cared wholeheartedly, and a presence that made others feel seen, supported, and safe. Her voice, her laughter, and her guidance will be deeply missed, but her love will continue to live on through her family.

Kristin was preceded in death by her mother, Terry Lynn McEwin. She is survived by her beloved husband, Edward Martinez Jr.; her children, Thomas Scott Martinez, Abigail Grace Martinez, and Brooke Peyton Martinez; her father, Tom Lawless; her stepmother, Debbie Lawless; her stepbrothers, Brian Walker and his family and Fred Williams and his family; her brothers-in-law, Alberto Chavez and his family and Andrez Chavez with his wife Nikki and their children; her sister-in-law, Kathryn Martinez; her mother-in-law, Barbara Martinez; her aunt, who was like another mother, Michelle “Mickey” Barnett, and her adult children, Damon, Nicole, and Catherine, along with their spouses and children; many cousins; and a large extended family who will carry her memory forward with love.

Kristin will be deeply and forever missed by her beloved husband and children, who were the greatest love of her life. In remembering Kristin, may we celebrate her life by holding close the joy she brought, the love she gave so freely, and the way she made each of us feel seen, supported, and cared for. May her memory live on in the laughter, kindness, and good times she shared with all who knew her.