Martin Luis Anthony

Martin Luis Anthony, 31, of El Paso, Texas, passed on to his new life on Monday, June 27, 2011, in Houston, Texas where he was living while undergoing treatment for cancer. Martin spoke of himself as a cancer survivor, fighting courageously and conquering the cancer. He was taken by a treatment related complication.

Martin was born November 2, 1979, the second son of Arthur “Doc” Anthony and Teresa Navar Anthony of El Paso, Texas. He attended St. Raphael grade school, and Cathedral High School, where he was a formidable debater and chess player and Baylor University in Waco, Texas. An avid reader of philosophy and a lover of Latin and Greek language and thought, he earned his B.A. in classics from Baylor. He had recently adopted as his own the Carmelite motto: Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum ("I have been zealous with zeal for the Lord, God of hosts." 1 Kings 19:10)

He was an accomplished billiards player and author, most recently of a monograph examining suffering and the possibility of miracles, titled Not My Will: The Theology of Acceptance. Martin was also a blogger, and left a record of his recent months at http://r3booted.blogspot.com/. Always well-read and well informed, Martin filled his blog with information about his treatment, his day-to-day experiences, favorite songs, prayers and grateful exclamations. Not only an engaging writer, he was a wonderful, witty and original conversationalist. He also enjoyed trout fishing and camping. While tireless in his fight with cancer, Martin also maintained a trust in the workings of Divine Providence and a hope for eternity.

He is survived by his parents and a loving circle of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who will remember him as a courageous and upright man. Martin was preceded in death by his brother, Marcus Christopher Anthony, his uncle Nash Navar, his aunt Conchita Cameron, cousins Louis Patrick Navar, Patricia Navar Rodriguez, and Paul David Navar. Rosary will be held at 7pm Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with visitation till 9pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 12:15pm Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Martin left us with a testimony of his own faith to guide us in our sorrow: This is from the preface of Not My Will: “Endurance and perseverance through pain, suffering, and loss are how we are best identified as Christians, because in spite of these things we believe in a greater glory after death. This is what motivated the martyrs and saints throughout early Christendom, and this is what should motivate us today.”

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central, El Paso, TX.