FELIX T. MARTINEZ

FELIX T. MARTINEZ
Mr. Felix T. Martinez, long-time Mission resident, passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday July 11, 2010.
Felix was born in Escobares, Texas, November 18, 1917. He graduated from Mission High School and continued his education at the University of Texas in Austin, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1943. After working for Magnolia Petroleum (Mobil), Felix returned to the Valley in 1947 to assume control of Mission Wholesale Grocery, started in 1912 by his father, Felix F. Martinez, and Rancho Santa Fe Cattle Company, of which he served as president.
Felix devoted his life to his family, his community and his church. He will be remembered lovingly by his family and friends to whom he gave his unquestionable love. He was involved in public service in the Valley for most of his life. He served two terms as Hidalgo County Commissioner and six years on the Mission City Council. He served as director of NBC Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. He also served two terms for twelve years as member of the first Board of Regents after Pan American became a state-supported University. He was actively involved in the planning and construction of many of the buildings on the present University campus.
Felix was an active member of the St. Paul's Catholic Church in Mission for over 40 years. He also was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. He was a member of the Sembradores de Amistad, the Hidalgo County Sherriff's Posse, the Order of the Ahlambra, and was associated with several social and civic organizations.
Felix is preceded in death by his by Alicia, his wife of fifty-seven years, his grandson, Felito Tadeo Martinez, his father Felix F. Martinez, his mother Maria Otila Martinez and his sister Maria Olivia Martinez.
He is survived by his son Felix Tadeo (Stephanie) Martinez of San Isidro, Texas; his daughters Sonia (Ward) Morton of San Antonio, Texas, Ileana (Richard) Baca of Bogota, Colombia, Alicia (Thomas) Koeneke of Mission, Texas and Maria Olivia Garza of Mission, Texas;  his grandchildren, Maria Micaela Boas, Joaquin Tadeo Baca, Ward Davis Morton IV, Adan Martin Baca, Andrew Felix Morton, Elena Cristina Morton, Matthew David Koeneke,  Ana Alicia Morton, Thomas Daniel Koeneke, Antonio Amancio Garza, Javier Rene Garza, Alejandro Thomas Martinez, Benjamin David Garza, Alyssa Salome Martinez, and Aida Ileana Garza; his great grandchildren Keygan Davis Morton, Austin Mychal Morton, Isabella Pilar Boas, Maria Carlota Boas, Carson Felix Morton, and Wesley  Ward Morton.
Pallbearers will he his grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters, his grandson (deceased), and his great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Wednesday July 14, 2010 at Ric Brown Family Funeral Home from 4 to 9 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary. Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, July 15, 2010, at 9 a.m. at St Paul's Catholic Church in Mission. Interment will follow at Rancho Santa Fe in San Isidro.  A police escort will be provided by Hidalgo County.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in his memory to the Felito Martinez Memorial Endowed Scholarship, The University of Texas Pan American Foundation, 627 FM 2844, Santa Elena, Texas 78591.
The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to his loving caregivers:  Librado (Leo) Garza, Maria Guadalupe Llamas, Marisol Cantu, Laura Jeanett Vasquez and Rosalinda Moreno.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ric Brown Family Funeral Home in Mission.
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