Inez M. Martinez, Sr.

Inez M. Martinez, Sr. of Texas City, Texas, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Friday morning, February 23, 2024.

He was born in Washington County in 1926 where he grew up and then joined the US Army as a young adult in post WWII serving as an active duty and reservist soldier. Subsequent to military service, he then spent his entire working career as a cement mason and was a member of the same union for 76 years.

Inez is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Margaret; parents, Asuncion and Guillermo Martinez; sisters, Luisa Fernandez, Anizeta Mercardo and Teodosia Vasquez; brothers, Pablo and Graciano Martinez.  

Survivors include daughters, Leticia Martinez and Rita Guardiola, husband, Sam; sons, Daniel, and Inez Martinez Jr. and life partner, Dolores Gonzales; grandchildren, Sam Guardiola II (spouse Karen), Michael Guardiola, Raquel Guardiola, Nicole Garcia (spouse Cat), Alejandro Garza II, and Jacquelyn Martinez; three great grandchildren, Jeremy and Brynlee Guardiola and Camilla Inez Rice.  

Inez was a survivor of the 1947 Texas City explosion working on the GRANDCAMP the day before.  Fortunately, he accepted a contract laborer job at Union Carbide the day of the explosion.   As long as the family can remember, he loved singing, whether it be along with his favorite songs or singing solo, in the house, outside, in the car or anywhere else. He and his wife would never turn down a wedding or special occasion invitation to celebrate and go dancing. Unfortunately, a knee replacement in 1999 rendered him permanently handicapped, but he persevered to live the best life that he could by continuous movement and staying positive. He attended the Catholic church throughout his entire life until he was no longer physically able in his latter few years. His love for telling stories (sometimes over and over), giving nature and continuously voicing his appreciation to his daughters and grandson who provided his care best exemplified one of his most enduring personality traits.  He was a big lover of stray cats and dogs, to which he attested by always having at least one pet. There were too many to mention but some included Brownie, Shorty, Dumas, King, Perito, Snowy, Guzgo and Blackie. Inez enjoyed frequent rides to the Texas City Dike and road-trips to the Louisiana casinos with his daughter, Rita. When First Class Tours had a local bus pickup to the casino, he even managed to sometimes travel with his friend Connie Ovalle, who offered great companionship in his later years until her passing in 2023.  He loved sitting in his front yard with a cool drink (Wink! Wink!) watching what went on or visiting with whoever stopped by to join him.  

Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Guardiola, Alex Garza II, George Tavarez Jr, John Garza, Jesse Tavares, Jr, and John Cornell.  Honorary pallbearers are Sam Guardiola II and Esteban Fernandez.

A visitation with friends and loved ones will be on Thursday, February 29, 2024, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Emken-Linton Funeral Home.  Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2024, at St Mary’s of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Texas City. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Dickinson, Texas. A gathering to catch up with old family members, reminisce, and enjoy refreshments will be held back at St. Mary’s Ponzini Hall following the burial. 

In lieu of flowers, Inez would have preferred that a small donation be made to St Mary’s of the Miraculous Medal in Texas City https://stmarycctc.org/giving or to a local animal shelter of your choice.