Elias (Lee) Martinez

Elias (Lee) Martinez, age 76, of Sweetwater, Texas, passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2011,  at  Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 20, 2011, at  Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel with Ron Chamberlain officiating.  Burial will follow at Sweetwater Cemetery.   Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Elias (Lee) Martinez was born on August 24, 1935, in  Eskota, Texas to Pascual and Felipa Martinez.  He married Martha Gutierrez on April 1, 1954, in Sweetwater, Texas.  He was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's  Witnesses.  He worked as a manager of Sweetwater Feed and Supply for many years before retiring.

He is survived by two sons, Elias Martinez, Jr. of Abilene, Texas and Michael Haley of Lubbock, Texas; three daughters, Irene Alvarado of Odessa, Texas; Annie Hicks of Sweetwater, Texas; and Mary Ann Williams of College Station, Texas; twelve grandchildren; several great grandchildren; one brother, Pascual Martinez, Jr. of Sweetwater, Texas;  and six sisters, Rosalva Orona and  Rachel Ornelas, both of Odessa, Texas; Ester Cordova of Midland, Texas; Eva Ornelas of Sweetwater, Texas;  Margaret Lopez of Round Rock, Texas;  and Eloisa Martinez of Sweetwater, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pascual and Felipa Martinez, wife, Martha Martinez;  two baby brothers, one baby sister, brothers, Manuel Martinez and Daniel Martinez, Sr. and sister, Micaela Alcala.

Pallbearers will be Jodie Alvarado, Donald Hicks, Derek Hicks, Elias Martinez, Jr.,  Elias Martinez, III, and Joe Williams.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, December 19, 2011, from 6:00 - 7:30 P.M.