Carmen Mary Martinez

Carmen Mary Martinez, 57, of Erie, Colorado, died November 7, 2008, at Avista Adventist Hospital, Louisville.Carmen was born on November 5, 1951, in Fort Collins, Colorado, to Jose C. and Josephine (Lopez) Naranjo. She and her siblings were raised in Berthoud, Colorado by their loving surrogate parents, LeRoy and Margaret Salazar, as her biological parents died young. She graduated from Berthoud High School in 1970, and had studied cosmetology in Fort Collins and Greeley.On July 15, 1972, Carmen married Anastacio ""Nash"" Martinez, Jr. in Loveland. The couple was blessed with two boys, Bruce and Nash, III. Prior to being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she worked for several years as the housekeeping manager for the Hilton in Boulder and also for the Halls Grocery Store in Erie.Carmen was a member of the Erie Fire Department Women's Auxiliary and St. Scholastica Catholic Church. She enjoyed knitting, crossword puzzles, watching the Denver Broncos and game shows including Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Most of all she cherished time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.She is survived by her husband, Nash, of Erie; sons, Bruce Martinez and his wife, Dawn of Erie, and Anastacio ""Nash"" Martinez, III of Westminster; two grandsons, Michael Ferrera-Martinez and Braedon Martinez; and her siblings, Mary Naranjo, Joe (Joyce) Naranjo, Manuel (Barb) Naranjo, Roger (Karen) Naranjo, Cathy (Alfred) Gonzalez, Michael (Leticia) Naranjo, Georgia Rivas, as well as Geri, Bobby, Liza, Rodney and Oretta Salazar. She is further survived by brothers-in-law, Orlando and Chipper Martinez; sisters-in-law, Frances Ayala, Rosalie and Emma Martinez; and numerous nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Frank Naranjo, Tino Trujillo, and Isabelle Velasquez. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, at Howe Mortuary, Longmont. A rosary service will follow at 7:00 p.m. at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Erie. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 14, at St. Scholastica with The Reverend Hernan Florez as Celebrant.Memorial donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Colorado Chapter, Broadway Station, 900 S. Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80209.Please share thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.