Mary Louise Martinez

Mary Louise Martinez 

June 27, 1943 - October 26, 2025 

Mary Louise Martinez, a resident of Tierra Amarilla, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after a valiant fight against cancer. 

Mary Louise was born in Los Ojos (Parkview), NM to Maria and Louis Delgado. She was raised in Los Ojos, Espanola, and Albuquerque. She graduated valedictorian from Tierra Amarilla High School, then attended UNM and Northern College. On June 8, 1963, Mary Louise married Roy Martinez at San Jose Catholic Church in Los Ojos. They were blessed with three children, Roberta and twins Roy Gregory and Roy Jeffrey; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her family was the most important thing in her life, treasuring when the family was all together on Christmas Eve at home in TA. 

Her career began as an Administrative Secretary and later as Business Manager for the Chama Valley School District, working there for 12 years. She spent two years with the County Clerks and County Assessors office. Later, she was contracted by Mesa Vista School District to modernize their accounting system after the state dissolved the Board and assumed control. She was offered the Director of Finance position at Northern Community College, assisting the Dean of Finance in reconciling accounting systems, establishing controls, and training staff. 

In 1992, Mary Louise retired for the first time, but was soon contracted by Espanola Schools when the state assumed financial management. By the end of her contract, the district earned a clean audit; fiscal management returned to the district. She remained one year as Finance Director. 

When Rio Arriba County’s auditors were unable to complete an audit due to missing records, she was hired to help. During record reconstruction, she identified over one million dollars in unrecorded County Operational funds. She also lead the effort to build the County Administration Building and restore the Courthouse. After three years as County Comptroller, she retired for the second time, but was recalled two years later to reconstruct county records, serving three additional years before retiring for the third and final time. 

Mary Louise performed consulting for Northern College, Mesa Vista Schools, and Cuba Schools. Her proudest accomplishment was seeing the employees she trained grow into enriching careers. She served on many boards, including 4H-FFA, Chama Schools, the Cebolla Water Association, Church Finance Council, La Clinic del Pueblo, several foundations, and other professional organizations. 

She and Roy traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, especially enjoying trips to Las Vegas attending the PBR, NFR, and the World Series of Team Roping, as well as visits to many national parks. 

After retirement, she served as bookkeeper for San Jose Catholic Church and remained involved in parish life, even sewing beautiful altar cloths for the church. 

A true jack of all trades, she remodeled her home, including laying flooring, opening walls, installing paneling, building shelves, storage units, wallpapering, and adding custom trim. 

An expert seamstress, she created everything from her husband’s shirts and sport coats to wedding dresses. She altered most of her granddaughter’s prom and bridesmaid dresses and made many of her own clothes, starting in high school. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Roy, her parents, Louis and Maria Delgado; grandparents Ignacio and Sylveria Torrez, who helped raise her; sister Gloria Delgado; brothers Louis Chris Delgado. Beloved nephews and niece: Luis Delgado, Roman Martinez, and Angela Ulibarri. In-laws: Choncho and Rosa Martinez, Rose and Robert Martinez, Barbara and Don Messer and Alfonso Martinez. 

Mary Louise is survived by her children: Roberta (Patrick) Tarin, Greg (Shelley), Jeff (Kathy). Grandchildren: Jessica (Dominic) Villareal, Katherine Tarin, Jason (Amanda) Tarin; Caitlyn (John) Flint, Alexis Martinez, Bryan Martinez; Angela (Cayden) Sharp, Selina (Chris) Romero. great-grandchildren: Sofia and Nico Villareal. Sister Irene (Ben) Maestas; Brothers Felix (Maria) Delgado and Samuel (Linn) Delgado; In-laws Betty (Seledon) Ulibarri, Pearl Delgado, and her cherished “Little Doctor” Desiree Candelaria. 

A Rosary will be recited at San Jose Catholic Church in Los Ojos, NM on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 10:00 am with a funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 am. A private interment will take place at a later date.

The family of Mary Louise Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.  505-747-7477