Deborah "Debbie" Anne Martinez

Surrounded by her family and friends, Deborah A. Martinez, or “Debbie”, left this world for greater projects on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at the age of 59 years. Debbie will be remembered for her laughter, love, dedication, determination and strength. Debbie liked to solve problems, take naps, internet shop and ride bikes. She was a very loving and supportive partner, sister, daughter and friend, and family was very important to her. She inspired many in her approach to life and work and, particularly, to her final fight with cancer.

Debbie was born on November 25, 1957 in Houston, Texas. Debbie graduated from Sharpstown High School in 1976 and with a Civil Engineering degree from Rice University in 1981. Soon after graduating, Debbie began her career with Dow Chemical, holding several positions during her 17 years working with them. Leaving Dow, she co-founded a remodeling and construction company, which she jointly owned and operated for the next 9 years. She returned to corporate life in 2007, working with various divisions of ExxonMobil, including in Canada. She finished her career with Canadian Natural Resources (“CNRL”), in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she worked up until a month before her death.

Debbie loved to travel and travelled extensively, both personally and professionally. This developed when, as a young girl, she lived in The Hague, The Netherlands, where she attended the American School of The Hague. She traveled personally to Europe, Asia, Mexico, Central America, as well as all over the US and Canada. Professionally, she spent time working in Japan, Indonesia, and Canada, including Fort McMurray.

Debbie is survived by her partner Lee Woytkiw; sisters, Mary Martinez and Patricia Martinez; brother Anthony; her mother Amelia Martinez; father Anthony Martinez; her stepdaughters, Kelly Kirk and Casey Bemis; her special Aunt Rosa Gonzalez; and numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and her many work colleagues at CNRL.

Debbie, we miss you and our world will be emptier without you. Your love will endure over death. It will live in every life you touched and we will never forget you.

A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 10688 Shadow Wood Drive. Immediately following will be a Celebration of Life reception in the church hall. Burial of her remains will be private at a future date.