Clara M. Martin

Clara M. Martin was known as many things to many people. She was a loved one, a friend, and someone very special. To family and friends who knew her best, Clara will be remembered as a very exceptional person, with a ready smile and a quick wit that was timed just right. It always filled her heart with joy to make someone laugh and especially if she had a captive audience. Or that she could make someone’s day a little brighter by sharing her humorous side of things. Her favorite response when asked her age was “39 – just like Jack Benny!” That never failed….

Clara was born on June 6, 1931 in Springerville, Arizona. She was the daughter of Olfita and Juan P. Mata. Clara grew up in Springerville, Arizona and was raised there with her three brothers. Fermin, Luz and Henry. Clara and her siblings did not have an easy time of it but they survived the Great Depression and many other difficult life experiences.

In those days, she was not allowed to attend high school so she only went to grade school. However, she was proud to have been made captain of her softball team, and she also made it to a Spelling Bee Contest held in Eager, AZ.

Clara married her first husband Salomon Lucero Moya in November 1950 and he passed away in October 1963 at the age of 38 years old. She married for a second time to Steve F. Martin on December 28, 1967 in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Steve died in July 1998 at the age of 76 years old

Clara was a good mother to her children and she was blessed with four altogether, but the first one which was a girl named Sally Ann Moya did not make it through the natural birth process. Surviving children are Mary Ann Moya, Salomon Anthony Moya (Tony) and John D. Moya. Another blessing for Clara was the gift of six grandchildren, Steven Moya, Shane Moya, Autumn Moya, Morgan Oakley, Kai Moya and Laurie Hastings.

Clara worked hard and did her best at whatever she attempted. Her primary occupation was devoted wife and mother, but she worked at several restaurants and motels in Springerville, AZ during her first marriage. In her second marriage to Steve Martin, she helped him with the books and managing two gas stations he owned in Prescott, AZ. He named them Ace #1 and Ace #2. Their children also helped so it became a family affair. When the family moved to Phoenix in January 1971, Steve ended up owning an automotive shop (Valley West Auto) that was located in Tolleson, AZ. Clara helped him with this business also which he owned until they retired in 1980. They moved to Sun Tree Apartments and Cedar Meadow Apartments in Peoria before buying their home in Youngtown, AZ in August 1996

Throughout her life, Clara was outgoing and never shied from being involved with professional or community organizations. Clara and Steve were members of the Lions Club when they lived in Tolleson, AZ, and she helped Steve when he was foreman during many City and State elections held in Peoria.

Clara was a woman who took pride in upholding her beliefs, her faith was very important to her. She was born and raised a Catholic and was most recently registered at St. Joachim and St. Anne Catholic Parish in Youngtown, where she became a member of the Holy Spirit Prayer Group.

Clara enjoyed visiting family and friends. There were many times spent traveling near and far with her daughter, Mary Ann. The last few years they especially took time to travel to Wisconsin and Michigan to visit with her sister-in-laws and their families. She was extremely close to Steve's sisters, Rose Delano and Mary Bates. And instead of using the “in-law”, all three called each other sister, and were known as the “three musketeers”. After Rose passed in October 2002, Clara and Mary Bates clung to each other. There were many phone calls, cards and letters going between Arizona and Michigan.

Clara was a lover of animals but loved dogs more than cats, and she always seemed to have some sort of dog in her life until she and Steve moved to their apartments. She especially got a kick out of hearing that Shirley’s dog, Ryker, or Edith’s cat, Doolittle, were also praying for her.

When Clara and Steve did finally retire in 1980 they took a nice long trip to visit with Steve's family in Wisconsin and Michigan, Clara’s brother in Troutdale, Oregon, and some friends in between before settling into retirement life. At this point in time they moved from Tolleson, AZ to the Sun Tree Apartments in Peoria. St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church was just across the street so her and daughter, Mary Ann, started going there and got involved with helping with the church fiestas, and any other activities or functions that they could participate in. They both met many nice people during this time and ended up with some life-long friends. At the same time, Steve decided to take classes for massage therapies and got his certificate at the A. R. E. Clinic. He went from working on car bodies to human bodies and Clara helped him with this new endeavor as well. When Steve passed in 1998, Clara started going to the Olive Branch Senior Center in Sun City which she enjoyed tremendously. It became a haven for her and she made many friends. She had a regular routine for the week, so she would know what she was doing every day and could recite it to anyone who asked. Monday, Wednesday and Friday were Senior Center days; Tuesday was her laundry day; Thursday was exercise day; Saturday was her Prayer Group day and the day she and Mary Ann went to Wal Mart; Sunday was her day to take a shower. And as she said, whether she needed it or not.

Mom was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, and because the aorta was so bad, the mitral valve had also gone bad. The cardiologist did two balloon procedures, one on February 14th and the second on May 5th. She didn’t have an easy time with the second one, but we managed to get her strong enough to make one last trip to Wisconsin/Michigan to see her beloved sister Mary Bates and the rest of the family of nieces and nephews. It was the best trip ever since our flight home was the day before her 80th birthday, and our last stop was at the Denver Airport. We met my brother John & family there and they had an area set up with balloons and all the birthday trimmings, food, drinks, and a cake with two candles…. An eight (8) and a zero (0). We told her we didn’t want the fire alarm to go off with 80 separate candles.  Random people were even stopping by to wish her a Happy Birthday and it was the happiest day ever. She was so excited and I told her how special she was because who could ever say they celebrated a milestone birthday at an airport?! The stewards, stewardesses, and even the Frontier Airlines pilot treated her extra special.

Clara is survived by her favorite daughter, Mary Ann Moya; sons Tony Moya and his wife Deb, John Moya and his wife Amy, and step-daughter Jeannie Langan. Services were held on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 W Beardsley Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Clara was laid to rest at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, in a side by side niche where she and her daughter, Mary Ann, will rest together.

Simply stated, Clara was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and generous soul, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Clara leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will never forget her.

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Clara M. Martin passed away peacefully in Phoenix, AZ on August 11, 2011. Clara had been a resident of the Valley of the Sun for 40yrs, but was an Arizona native having been born in Springerville, AZ to Olfita and Juan Mata. She was a devoted wife and mother, and possessed great strength and great faith. She was loved by all her family and multitude of friends, and will be dearly missed. Clara is survived by her favorite daughter, Mary Ann Moya; sons Tony Moya and his wife Deb and John Moya and his wife Amy and step-daughter Jeannie Langan; grandchildren Steven Moya, Shane Moya; Autumn Moya, Morgan Oakley, Kai Moya and Laurie Hastings; great grandchildren Taylor Rose Moya, Jaden Oakley, Ava Nicole Moya, Noelanie Rose Marie Noel, Saige Brennae and Kallie Jo Hastings; sister and best friend Mary Bates of Kingsford, MI; brother Luz Mata and his wife Ventura of Springerville, AZ; sister-in-law Gertie Mata of Troutdale, OR; and brother-in-law Fedencio Moya and wife Jennie also from Springerville, AZ; a very special cousin Susanna Chavez of Phoenix, AZ; and lots of nieces and nephews. Clara was predeceased by her husbands Salomon Moya and Steve F. Martin. The family would like to give a special “Thank You” for the wonderful care given to her by the Hospice of the Valley staff. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 4:00pm at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 W Beardsley Rd., Phoenix, AZ. www.phoenixmemorialmortuary.com .