Gloria P. Martinez

Mom passed peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 14th, 2024, at 10:20pm, with her loving son by her side. Immediate family and friends were able to say loving goodbyes during the day.

Mom was preceded in death by her Husband, Luis Deleon Martinez; Father, Jesus and Mother, Agustina Garcia Perez; Grandmother, Maria (Eladio) Garcia; Aunts and Uncles, Carmela (Ben) Ramirez, Roberto Garcia, Miguel Garcia, Sofia Garcia, and Lola Garcia.

Mom is survived by Daughter, Belinda (Enrique) Martinez Gutierrez; Son,Luis (Hilda) Perez Martinez Jr.; Grandchildren, Sarah Lynette (Corey) Gutierrez Garza, Leanne Michelle Gutierrez, Rick Anthony Gutierrez, Jennysa Christine Gutierrez and Luis Donavan Martinez; Great-grandchildren, Gabriella Garza, Justin Torrez, Jacob Torres and Ariana Torrez, all of Corpus Christi, TX; and Sisters, Maria Elena Crowley, and Maria Elvia Wysack of Kingsville, TX;, and cousin, Maria Elena (Luciano) Martinez

Mom grew up on the Chapman Ranch and was raised by her maternal Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles mentioned above after the premature death of her loving mother Agustina at age 21, when Mom was 3 years old. Grandpa Jesus Perez was drafted shortly thereafter during WWII.

Mom traveled with her family and loved to follow her Aunts and Uncles into the cotton fields in various areas of south Texas and as far as Arizona to pick cotton. Mom always had fond memories of her childhood spending time with her parental family up to the age of 9.

At 9 years old, Mom happily volunteered herself to work at the home of one of the twin heiresses to the Chapman ranch, Unis Chapman. After a short time, Mom went to work at the home of twin sister Una Chapman Dowd as Unis had gone on travels. Mom recalled funny memory to us, Mrs. Unis was not happy upon her return to learn mom was assisting Una at her home. Both sisters were heiresses, then inherited part ownership of the Chapman Ranch and were quite adamant in their ways and according to mom, the sisters each wanted Mom as their caretaker. End the end, Mom stayed with Una Dowd and became a caretaker of Mrs. Dowd’s various properties in Chapman Ranch, Corpus Christi and Port Aransas for 20 years, as Mrs. Dowd would travel the world for most of the year. Mrs. Dowd grew to love Mom and trusted mom to run and maintain the properties during Mrs. Dowd’s extensive world travels.

When Mom and Dad married, Mrs. Dowd’s love for Mom was so great, that she generously and lovingly sponsored a beautiful white, multi-tiered wedding cake for the wedding. And When Mom gave birth to her first child, Belinda, Mrs. Unis Chapman in turn sponsored my sister’s first bassinet/baby bed. Mrs. Dowd loved and adored Mom and did not want Mom to leave and offered Dad direct employment to stay with Mom as a co-caretaker. These memories Mom told us were not only a show of love that the sisters had for Mom, but of the work ethic, loyalty and trustworthiness that Mom was always so proud of being known for. In short, the Chapman twins loved and adored Mom more than I can describe. They both loved and trusted Mom to the point of trusting Mom to invite family and friends to stay with her at the various properties and the use of vehicles, as Mrs. Una Dowd traveled the world for up to 10 months out of the year and Mom was left to live at the properties alone.

As Mom grew, she also became known for her outer beauty as well as her inner beauty and character. As such, Mom was crowned a beauty queen for the American G.I. Forum in her early twenties. And her ethics and character also were known to a point that Mom was asked to become the Treasurer for the American G.I. Forum. Mom would tell of Dr. Hector P. Garcia and others having to travel from Corpus Christi or other towns to the Chapman Ranch to pick up checks for expenses for the group. Its was not

a short drive, however, Mom was absolutely trusted with the finances that made the drive worth the peace of mind. However, Mom was always concerned about the long drive and eventually gave up the position as she felt the long drive for Dr. Garcia and others was too much and thought it was a burden for anyone to travel that distance or longer. This decision continued to show Mom’s consideration of other’s time and efforts.

Mom’s love of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit was always with her, even as a young child and grew as Mom grew. This love had grown to a point that Mom had decided, at an early age, that she would be a nun. However, Mom also dreamed of having a family. Mom told us that she asked the advise of a Priest on her inability to decide. Mom said the Priest counseled her and said he could see Mom’s radiant and intense love for the holy trinity, but in his opinion, Mom’s love was so great that he told Mom she could serve God and have a family. Mom followed his advise.

Upon marriage to dad, in 1965, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Corpus Christi, Mom decided to leave the 20 years of employment with Mrs. Dowd and the Chapman Ranch. Mom and Dad decided to move to Corpus Christi to begin their lives together. A daughter, Belinda, was born in 1966, then a son, Luis Jr. was born, 1970. Mom loved her daughter and son unconditionally and raised us to have a good work ethic, to be trustworthy, compassionate, respectful, kind, helpful, supportive and especially loving to all. Mom instilled in us to show love, as mom always did, even to those who did not understand her radiant love, just as Jesus radiated love to all, even to those who did not reciprocate. Mom was always supporting us in all our endeavors in our youth, from moral support to financial support even with her limited budget, from little league football, cub scouts, buccaneer parade participation, education, and in our adult lifes in work, furthering our education or to business ventures.

When Dad was injured at his work, Mom became the sole breadwinner and went to to work in the restaurant business, first at Ray’s Restaurant, for 20 years, then at Casa de Roy for an additional 10 years. Mom retired after having a triple bypass in 1999, and took care of Dad until his passing in 2016.

Mom did not miss one day due to illness. So many customers would compliment Mom’s tortilla’s and carne guisada. Mom’s tortillas would be shipped out of state to former customers who would call in.

As a devout Catholic, Mom and Dad baptized and then led her daughter and son toward completing their first Communion and Confirmation at Our Lady of Pillar Church, in the Molina neighborhood.

Around the time Mom became a wife and mother, Mom also continued her dedication to the Holy Trinity, by first becoming a Cruxeista, after attending a Catholic retreat. Then Mom began attending various Catholic Churches in the West side of Corpus Christi. When Mom and Dad settled in the Molina area, Mom began attending Our Lady of Pillar Church. Mom began there as a parishioner then to over 50 years of service.

Mom continued her service to the Holy Trinity by attending classes and completing certificates on biblical studies at the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Mom and Dad also began involvement in the annual Jamaica for over 30 years. Also, Mom went on to join the Prayer Group, and was was later elected to lead. Mom then joined the Guadalupana group, then was elected to lead. Mom also joined the Eucharistic Ministry and served at the alter, assisting Father Marcos Martinez in giving the Body of Christ, not only to Parishioners during Mass, but also traveling to surrounding Nursing Homes and private homes to Parishioners who had become home bound. At one point, Mom had upwards of 100 persons per Sunday that she delivered the Eucharist to outside of Church. Mom never wavered or said no to any additions to her list. Even when Dad was sick, Mom would make sure Dad was settled for the morning, then she would leave to commence her Sunday morning routine to deliver the Body of Christi. Mom continued this routine, at a diminished rate to the last year of her beautiful life.

As another dedication to sharing her love of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Mom would conduct the Rosary at hundreds of Funeral Services for family, friends and a multitude of personal requests, as many parishioners and even non parishioners would see mom conducting the Rosary or hear of Mom passion for the custom and the way she completed the 9 days Rosary without hesitation.

As a leader, Mom led both Catholic groups and with Father’s permission, initiated various activities and began new biblical reenactments that were conducted inside the Church and in the Church Hall. Parishioners were always encouraged to be participate, which is how some came to know mom. Many of the reenactments were the first to be seen in church and Corpus Christi. The most celebrated and most cherished reenactments Mom coordinated was The Washing of the Feet of 12 Apostles and the following Last Supper. This event was Mom’s loving and continuing commitment to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, after receiving a certificate in the biblical studies that included the Last Supper. Mom had a difficult time completing the test for this certificate, as Mom only completed the 3rd grade. Mom said she prayed during classes and especially during the final test. And Mom did pass. Mom then asked permission of Father Marcos Martinez in 1999 to begin this specific event. The 2024 Washing of the Feet and Last Supper reenactment was Mom’s last. Mom could not have done any event without the support of her fellow Guadalupana group members, participants and donors. Also during Mom’s over 40 years of service, Mom, with Dad’s support began involvement in the Sunday Breakfast in support of the Catechism classes, held every Fall and Spring, during her leadership of the Prayer and then the Guadalupana groups. Mom and Dad were always the first ones in the kitchen, by 5 am, and the last ones to leave by 2pm. Also, over the past 5 decades as a parishioner and in leadership, mom dedicated herself to the annual Jamaica. This event was also once a year, but Mom and Dad spent countless hours in preparation, buying supplies the weeks before and especially on the day and night before. Mom and Dad would begin at 5 am and end at 9 pm. In addition, at the end of each year Mom and Dad would make up to 50 dozen tamales for the Free Annual Christmas Community Breakfast and then serve at the event for the community. Each Event always took hours upon hours of preparation and set up. Mom and Dad took great pride in decorating the Hall for each and every event. As said, Mom and Dad would not be able to do these events without the support of members of each group mom was a leader of. Mom was forever humble and sincerely grateful to Father McNamara, Father Marcos Martinez, Father Angel and Father Naul for their permission and support of activities Mom introduced and continued leading and participating in for over 40 years of her dedication to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Catholic Church. My sister, me, her family, friends and anyone who saw Mom’s work, will always remember Mom’s incredible radiant love and remarkable dedication to the Holy Trinity, to her family, to her friends, to her Church and to the community. On Mom’s behalf, I want to thank family, friends, donors and acquaintances of Mom who supported Mom in the all the events through each year of Mom’s service. Mom had the most loving dedication in service to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and found strength in her love for the Holy Trinity to always complete each task from start to finish, without hesitation. My sister and I hope to live as good and loving a life as Mom and pass along her love. God bless you all. And as Mom always said “be nice”.

A public visitation for Gloria will be held Wednesday, September 25, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery, 8200 Old Brownsville Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415. A holy rosary will occur Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 7:00 PM at Memory Gardens Funeral Home. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Pilar Catholic Church, 1101 Bloomington St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78416. An interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.