SAN YGNACIO, TX—Dora O. Martinez, 67, was welcomed into our Lord’s heavenly kingdom on Wednesday, November 25th with her beloved husband of 46 years by her side.
Dora was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, teacher, community leader, and devoted servant to our Lord Jesus Christ. A proud Zapata High School Hawk, Dora was committed to serving her community. She was an advocate of early childhood education, serving the children of San Ygnacio and Zapata throughout her 34-year career as the director of their respective Head Start programs with the most recent program being Avance. She served her community for 22 years as a Zapata County ISD School Board member where she successfully fought for the construction of new elementary schools for both San Ygnacio and Zapata, as well as a new, modern high school for Zapata. She was an avid member of the San Ygnacio Ladies Club and took great pride in coordinating events for the community like the Lighting of the Plaza and Christmas Parade, El Dia del Niño celebration, and the Cinco de Mayo Jamaica and parade. As a member of the San Ygnacio Ladies Club, she also coordinated numerous fundraisers to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors and to help the ill with medical expenses. In her lifelong devotion to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, she volunteered her time to the Catholic Church as a catechism coordinator and in numerous fundraising events. Her faith and devotion to our Lord also led her to be chosen as the Texas representative of the Virgen de Platanar from Platanar, Jalisco, also known as “La Tejanita.” As the Texas representative of the Virgen de Platanar, Dora coordinated annual celebrations where many Texans travelled to Platanar, Jalisco to pray to the Virgen.
Aside from her many roles and responsibilities, Dora often donated her time to multiple organizations, including United Way, Boys & Girls Club of Zapata, and the San Ygnacio Historical Home Tours. For the past five years, it was her great pleasure that she and Henry were chosen by their peers to be members of the Amigos Doce Club, a non-profit social club of 12 couples.
In recognition of everything she has done for the community, she was crowned Mrs. San Ygnacio in 2017 by Emily Ann Alvarado, 2016 Miss San Ygnacio.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Rubilio and Irene Saldivar; father-in-law, Henry Mercy Martinez, mother-in-law, Nemecia Garay; and a brother-in-law, Rigoberto Garay.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 46 years, Henry Martinez Jr.; son Henry III (Jessica K.) Martinez; and daughters, Dora A. (Rigoberto) Sendejo and Vanessa L. (Rolando Jr.) Gutierrez; grandchildren, Justin D. (Valeria) Martinez, Henry Martinez IV, Delynda Sendejo (Joey Martinez), Bryanna Sendejo, Rigoberto Sendejo, Jr., Nataly Sendejo, Melissa L. Gutierrez, Rolando A. Gutierrez, Larissa L. Gutierrez; great-grandchildren, Justin D. Martinez, Jr., Catalyna I. Martinez; brothers, Rubilio Jr. (Maricela) Saldivar, Reynol (Minnie) Saldivar; sisters, Irene (Agustin) Leyva, Maria Etelvina (Joe) Guerra, Araceli (Carlos) Hurtado; sister-in-law, Sylvia De La Torre and by numerous nephews, nieces and other family members and friends.
Pallbearers were Henry Martinez III, Justin D. Martinez, Rigoberto Sendejo, Rigoberto Sendejo Jr., Rolando A. Gutierrez Jr., Rolando A. Gutierrez, Julian J. Gutierrez and Julian J. Gutierrez Jr.
Honorary Pallbearers were Henry Martinez IV, Antonio J. Gutierrez, Joey Martinez Jr., Esteban Lopez, and Allan Martinez.
