Elizabeth Elsie Virginia Martinez

Elizabeth “Elsie” Virginia Martinez was born on May 17, 1940 in Elizabethtown, New Mexico to Jose and Conferina Lucero. The eldest daughter of 11 siblings, she grew up on a farm in Cimarron, New Mexico, which is in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Elsie was the 2nd child of Jose and Conferina.

Therefore, she helped care for her younger siblings, which included hauling and heating water for baths. She would enjoy the first bath though, before her siblings. Elsie attended Cimarron High School where she played basketball and softball and also played the clarinet in the band.

The Lucero family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in the mid 1950’s. There, she started dating Gilbert Martinez, who was also from northern New Mexico. Elsie said that Gilbert followed her to Fort Collins, but Gilbert claimed Elsie followed him. They were married at Holy Family Church on December 21, 1957 at the ages of 17 and 21, respectively. Elsie liked to say they had three weddings because they renewed their vows on their 25th and 50th anniversaries. They were happily married for 68 years and would have celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this December.

Together, they had three beautiful children, Bernadette, Gilbert, and Reuben, who were all born in Fort Collins, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Elsie loved going to all their school events and sporting events and was always a very vocal spectator. For many years, Elsie volunteered as a Camp Fire Girl leader. She loved her family more than anything and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Gilbert and Elsie lived in Fort Collins for many years, where Elsie worked as a housekeeper for many prominent families, including CSU professors and a Fort Collins mayor. She retired to help babysit for two of her grandchildren. In 1988, she and Gilbert moved to west Loveland, where they hosted many holiday celebrations and Broncos games (and she was very vocal during those too). She loved living in Loveland, especially the close friendships she developed with amazing neighbors. Elsie enjoyed doing macrame, stained glass and other crafts as hobbies. She always wanted to play card games or poker, go to the segundas or go out to eat. Traveling was always on Elsie’s agenda too. She and Gilbert traveled around the US and to many countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, France and Italy (where she visited the Vatican and got to see the Pope.)

Elsie is survived by Gilbert, her loving husband of 68 years, daughter Bernadette (Joe), son Reuben (Kathleen), brothers Joe (Kathy), Paul (Mary Jo), and Sammy (Beverly), sisters Josie, Rosie (Eugene) and Ruby, sister-in-law Irene (Roger), brothers-in-law Leroy, David (Darla) and Ramon, grandchildren Marquette, Diego, David, Stephanie, Maya, Benjamin, Marina and Joshua, great-grandchildren Abriyanah, Zaidrian, Martin, Nyjah, Joshua and one due in December, son-in-law Oscar, many cousins and other relatives.

Elsie is preceded in death by her parents, Conferina and Jose Lucero, and Gilbert’s parents, Lucia and Nemecio Martinez, son Gilbert “Nemo”, brothers Desiderio and Larry, sisters Mary, Linda, and Kathy, and grandson Michael.

Elsie passed away peacefully at home on August 2nd, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones. The funeral service will be Friday, August 7th at Holy Family Catholic Church. Rosary at 9:30 am and Mass at 10 am. Followed by a reception at the Drake Centre from 12-3 pm. We encourage you to wear blue, which was Elsie’s favorite color, or Broncos attire, which was her favorite team. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud.