Obituary for Aletta Martinez
Aletta Frances Talley, 78, was born on February 2, 1945 at her home south of Dodson Texas to Otho and Lillian Talley where she was raised until she left home to make a home of her own. Aletta was blessed with three children - Eddie, Ricky and Donna. And that is how we heard our names, right in a row, from oldest to youngest. Johnny and Patricia became part of our family around 1970. Joe's children - Belia, Silvia, Manuel, Louis, Norma, Sue, Benny, Anna, Phillip, Eddie, Robert and Roli - became her own in 1984 when she and Joe were married. She loved her kids and grandkids.
Aletta loved to camp, and our family had campout for as long as I can remember. Each summer, cousins, aunts, uncles and anyone we could gather up would go to the lake. We would spend a week cooking over the campfire and sleeping in tents, on the picnic tables, and in lawn chairs. Few of us had campers in the beginning. These were some of the most fond memories. Aletta would be packed and always leave at least a day early to get a spot and be waiting on everyone when we got there. She would stand up out of her chair and be waving to show where she was and meet you at the car. I believe that is how she was greeted in Heaven. Her family has been enjoying their time in Heaven but anxiously waiting for her to get there! She was greeted with the best hugs.
Aletta was an artist. She could paint a painting that you thought you could walk into. The colors are brilliant and make you want to go sit under a tree or explore the barn to see what is inside. Bob Ross taught her to make a place for the animals to hide and birds to fly and people to escape if only for a moment. She loved gardening and watching her flowers grow. When you would visit, the first part of the day was walking around the yard to see what flower had sprouted and which rose was as its' fullest bloom.You may have to kick a chicken around to see everything as her 'babies' followed her around because she was their mama. She loved butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds and was always taking a moment to enjoy nature.
Aletta loved big. Her greatest treasures were her grandchildren. She took in children when they needed a home or a place to be themselves. Her house was always full of kids. The phrase," Boys, turn that music down!"was heard daily and many, many times. She never made anyone leave and always had bologna and cheese and a toaster oven ready in the kitchen for whoever to cook and eat.
Aletta was married more than once and said she didn't regret those unions. She learned from each one. Some lessons were hard and some taught her how to make new beginnings and make better decisions. On November 11, 1984, she met Jose Martinez. They both worked at Colonial Manor and it seemed they clicked the moment they met. She had found the love of her life - the man who would complete her and care for her the way she should be cared for. Just as he did her, she took care of him as well. They were one.
Aletta was saved in the Missionary Baptist Church in Dodson, Texas. It wasn't until she joined the Dodson Nazarene Church that her faith began to grow, though. She was reluctant to go, but her sister encouraged her to just try it. She didn't miss many Sundays from that day forth and began Sunday School classes as well as teaching on Wednesday evenings. She didn't just teach bible lessons, but also life lessons to those listening. The kids knew if she said it, she lived it. When she messed up, she owned it. The prison ministry was very important to her. Showing love to those that seemed forgotten. What seemed scary to others was her mission field. "The boys," as she called them, listened to her and loved seeing her. They also saw a genuine woman - not perfect, but forgiven.
Aletta took her last breath on earth surrounded by family on December 23, 2023 at 1:40 a.m. at Colonial Manor where she and Joe had worked so many years before. There was singing, story telling, laughter and tears. She was in the midst of it all: hearing it all and waiting on Jesus.
She leaves behind her children, bonus children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and nursing home staff who became family - all a list of people too long to mention.
Aletta's last wishes were that her kids, grandkids, family and friends would accept Jesus into their lives. Everyone has doubts and wonder, but she ask for all to have an open heart. The still, small voice inside is the holy spirit leading. Faith isn't seeing, faith is believing in something you can't see. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Her other wish is that you would find the kind of love that her and Joe had. Not perfect, but unbreakable. A love of a lifetime.
John 3:16
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Aletta loved to camp, and our family had campout for as long as I can remember. Each summer, cousins, aunts, uncles and anyone we could gather up would go to the lake. We would spend a week cooking over the campfire and sleeping in tents, on the picnic tables, and in lawn chairs. Few of us had campers in the beginning. These were some of the most fond memories. Aletta would be packed and always leave at least a day early to get a spot and be waiting on everyone when we got there. She would stand up out of her chair and be waving to show where she was and meet you at the car. I believe that is how she was greeted in Heaven. Her family has been enjoying their time in Heaven but anxiously waiting for her to get there! She was greeted with the best hugs.
Aletta was an artist. She could paint a painting that you thought you could walk into. The colors are brilliant and make you want to go sit under a tree or explore the barn to see what is inside. Bob Ross taught her to make a place for the animals to hide and birds to fly and people to escape if only for a moment. She loved gardening and watching her flowers grow. When you would visit, the first part of the day was walking around the yard to see what flower had sprouted and which rose was as its' fullest bloom.You may have to kick a chicken around to see everything as her 'babies' followed her around because she was their mama. She loved butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds and was always taking a moment to enjoy nature.
Aletta loved big. Her greatest treasures were her grandchildren. She took in children when they needed a home or a place to be themselves. Her house was always full of kids. The phrase," Boys, turn that music down!"was heard daily and many, many times. She never made anyone leave and always had bologna and cheese and a toaster oven ready in the kitchen for whoever to cook and eat.
Aletta was married more than once and said she didn't regret those unions. She learned from each one. Some lessons were hard and some taught her how to make new beginnings and make better decisions. On November 11, 1984, she met Jose Martinez. They both worked at Colonial Manor and it seemed they clicked the moment they met. She had found the love of her life - the man who would complete her and care for her the way she should be cared for. Just as he did her, she took care of him as well. They were one.
Aletta was saved in the Missionary Baptist Church in Dodson, Texas. It wasn't until she joined the Dodson Nazarene Church that her faith began to grow, though. She was reluctant to go, but her sister encouraged her to just try it. She didn't miss many Sundays from that day forth and began Sunday School classes as well as teaching on Wednesday evenings. She didn't just teach bible lessons, but also life lessons to those listening. The kids knew if she said it, she lived it. When she messed up, she owned it. The prison ministry was very important to her. Showing love to those that seemed forgotten. What seemed scary to others was her mission field. "The boys," as she called them, listened to her and loved seeing her. They also saw a genuine woman - not perfect, but forgiven.
Aletta took her last breath on earth surrounded by family on December 23, 2023 at 1:40 a.m. at Colonial Manor where she and Joe had worked so many years before. There was singing, story telling, laughter and tears. She was in the midst of it all: hearing it all and waiting on Jesus.
She leaves behind her children, bonus children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and nursing home staff who became family - all a list of people too long to mention.
Aletta's last wishes were that her kids, grandkids, family and friends would accept Jesus into their lives. Everyone has doubts and wonder, but she ask for all to have an open heart. The still, small voice inside is the holy spirit leading. Faith isn't seeing, faith is believing in something you can't see. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Her other wish is that you would find the kind of love that her and Joe had. Not perfect, but unbreakable. A love of a lifetime.
John 3:16
Services for Aletta will be Thursday, December 28th at 2pm at the Dodson Nazarene Family Life Center.
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