Joe Canuto Age - 72 - El Rito Martinez

Joe Canuto Martinez, 72, a resident of El Rito passed away at home surrounded by his loving daughters and wife after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Mr. Martinez worked for 34 years with the Forest Service, always ready to fight fires. He loved ranching and traveling. He will always be remembered as being a wonderful husband and a protective father. He was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Martinez; infant daughter, Tracy Martinez; parents, Jose and Ramoncita Martinez; sister, Tila Vigil; father-in-law, Cecilio Archuleta. Mr. Martinez is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lovie Martinez; daughters: Jeannette Trujillo and companion Robert, Cecilia Romero and husband William, Monica Maestas and husband Rudy, Lupe Leal and husband Tony, Alexandria Valdez and husband Chris; 12 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sisters: Lupe Moya, Bennie Vigil and husband Ernie, Eva Martinez, Dorothy Ochoa and husband Henry, Teresa Hathaway and husband Don and JoAnn Martinez; brothers: Rudy Martinez and wife Yolanda, Felipe Martinez and companion Monique; mother-in-law, Sophia Archuleta; sister-in-law, Alice Gurule and husband Nerio; brothers-in-law: Randy Archuleta and wife Bebe, Sam Archuleta and wife Elsie; numerous other loving relatives & friends. Rosary will be recited on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. Public visitation will be held on Friday, January 4, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at San Juan de Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito with a second rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at San Juan de Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito with burial to follow at El Rito Community Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Favian Maestas, Lawrence Trujillo, Justin and Tomas Romero, Tony Leal, Rudy Martinez, Chris Valdez and Phillip Martinez. Honorary pallbearers named are, Nerio Gurule, Michael Valdez, Ernie Vigil, Randy, Sam and Ted Archuleta, Henry Ochoa and Don Hathaway. The family of Joe Canuto Martinez have entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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