Family and friends will gather to celebrate the life of Lilia Loyola (Duran) Martinez at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Lifeway Baptist Church, 601 N. Dolores Rd., Cortez.

Cortez resident, Lilia Loyola (Duran) Martinez passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 at her home surrounded by family. She was 84. Known as Loyola, she was born to Locadio and Anastacia (Gallegos) Duran on Aug. 3, 1928 in Tierra Amarilla, N.M. At the age of four, she and her sister Toni went to live in an orphanage in Santa Fe, N.M. She lived there for seven years. She spoke fondly of the days in the orphanage where she was the youngest resident and was a favorite of some of the nuns. After leaving the orphanage she moved with her family to McPhee, Colo. where she met Benny.

Loyola and Benny were married in Ogden, Utah on Feb. 18, 1946. Over the next few years, the family grew and they lived in Cortez, Ogden, Mancos and then to Dove Creek. Benny and Loyola moved to Durango and lived there for nearly 15 years before moving to their home in Cortez in 2002.

Loyola was a wonderful and talented homemaker, gardener, craftsperson, teacher, fisherman, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend who cared about others and helped whoever and wherever she could. She loved life and found beauty in everything. She brightened the lives of everyone she met. Her family feels so very blessed to have had her in their lives. She had so many interests and talents and loved to fish, garden, dance, play games, go to yard sales, sew and make quilts, pick up rocks and generally have fun in whatever she did.

Loyola was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Joe Duran and Felix Martinez; her sister, Tessie; her brother-in-law, Joe Valdez; her son, Alfred Martinez; her son-in-law, Burton Montgomery; and by three grandchildren.

Loyola is survived by her husband of 66 years, Benny Martinez of Cortez; her brother, Leo Duran and wife Jane of Los Alamos, N.M.; her sister, Toni Valdez of Vallejo, Calif.; her son, Davey Martinez and wife Carol of Williams, Ariz.; her daughters, Ruby Lingle and husband Larry of Tulsa, Okla., Annie Walck and husband Lewis of Cortez, Patsy Martinez of Cortez, Emily Buchanan and husband Jeff of Grand Junction, Colo.; her sons, Julian Martinez and wife Jane of Albuquerque, N.M., Gary Martinez and wife Brenda of Bayfield, Colo., Stephen Martinez and wife Rebecca of Kansas City, Mo., Mark Martinez and wife Stephanie of Pleasant View, Teddy Martinez of Tulsa; her daughters, Sylvia Marchand and husband Alan of Peterborough, Ontario, and Christina Montgomery of Colorado Springs, Colo.; many friends and acquaintances; 38 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and by nine great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, your prayers and thoughts are appreciated.

Arrangements are being made through Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.