Carolyn Martinez

Carolyn Deleva Martinez, 63, returned to her Father in Heaven August 15, 2010, in Monticello, Utah, after a 15 year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Carolyn was born February 27, 1947, in Caldwell, Idaho, to German Ray Wells and Lorna Bell Merrell Wells. She grew up in Salmon, Idaho Falls, and Boise, Idaho, graduating from Borah High in Boise. She attended Medical Assistant School in Sacramento, California, then finished in computers at Stevens Henager College in Idaho Falls. Carolyn was a computer programmer and became head of computer programming. In this position she traveled across the United States to further her computer skills. Over twenty years later she retired from General Mills as the result of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease. On March 27, 1970, she married John Birch. Their daughter, Tina Bell, died shortly after birth. They later divorced. On November 1, 1974, she married Jack L. Martinez. Jack had two sons, Jeff and Mike, and together they had a daughter, Alisa. They enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and camping together. They later divorced. Carolyn was always taking classes and learning. She loved to travel and shared many trips with her daughter, Alisa. She also loved animals, especially her dogs and cats. She loved working in the yard and watching her flowers grow. She loved camping and went several times with her sister, Lorna Jean. She also loved to play the piano and sing; music was a big part of her life. She could play almost any song by ear after only hearing it once. As a teen, she and her sister, Mary, sang at church functions. She also enjoyed singing with sisters Evelyn and Lorna. A favorite family tradition was gathering around the piano to sing Christmas carols while Carolyn played the piano. Carolyn was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she held many positions, and could always be found in the ward choir. As her disease progressed, Carolyn spent five years in Monticello, Utah, with family, sang in the choir and attended the temple. Her last two years were in Rexburg, at Homestead Assisted Living Center, where they were very good to her. She was near other family members, who also made her feel very loved. She never complained and was kind to everyone around her. Carolyn was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Tina Bell, her father, a sister-in-law, Sharon Jensen Wells, three nephews, Alan Erickson, Von Wells, and Roger Merritt, and a niece, Kristi Merritt Dacus. She is survived by her daughter, Alisa Martinez, stepsons, Jeff and Mike Martinez, her mother, Lorna, and her siblings, Larry (Karen) Wells, Loren Wells, Mary (Max) Merritt, Evelyn (Bruce) Talbot, and Lorna Jean Wells. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 21, 2010, at the Idaho Falls LDS Woodruff First Ward, 1660 – 12th Street, with Bishop Jeremy Skidmore officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park.

Funeral Services

11 a.m. ,Saturday, August 21, 2010 Idaho Falls LDS Woodruff 1st Ward 1660 - 12th Street Idaho Falls, ID 83404 Notes: The family will visit with friends Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow in Fielding Memorial Park.