Mary 'Nena' Martinez

Mary "Nena" Martinez, 97, of Amarillo died Thurs. Jan. 30, 2020 peacefully at home. Service is 10 AM Tues. Feb. 4 at Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel. Interment will be at Llano Cemetery following the service. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage. Mary was born Oct. 18 1922 in Valley Junction IA, to Teresa and Juan Cuellar. She moved to Amarillo in 1940. She moved to Los Angeles for a few years but returned back home to Amarillo. Mary was the eldest of twelve Cuellar siblings. She would grow into a leader of the family, helping raise and nurture her younger siblings. This leadership wouldnt stop with her younger siblings. Ms. Martinez would grow into a pioneer in the Hispanic restaurant community. She opened the Martinez Tortilla Factory in 1968 until she retired in 1984. Mary was instrumental with La Frontera, she created a vast majority of the recipes served at the restaurant still today. She inspired her childrens success; they either were entrepreneurs or a Harvard graduate. Mary was very family oriented. She was a single mother to five children. Her grandchildren meant the world to her. She enjoyed planning family festivities. She was often viewed as a tough, God fearing woman in the community. Mary loved dancing and occasionally enjoyed singing and when she retired doing some home cooking. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Jimmy Martinez, four brothers; Mariano, Ralph, George, and Carlos Cuellar. Mary is survived by her two daughters, Ana Herrera and her husband Edward, and Elia Garcia, three sons, Leroy Martinez and his wife Irene, Michael Martinez, and Gregory Martinez, two sisters, Josephine Mendoza, Adeline Reynoso, five brothers, Robert, Gerald, Juan, Lucky, and Arthur Cuellar,14 grandchildren, 25, great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Prayer Service Rector Funeral Home Monday, February 03, 2020 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 2800 South Osage Amarillo, Texas 79103 Funeral Service Rector Funeral Home Tuesday, February 04, 2020 10:00 AM 2800 South Osage Amarillo, Texas 79103 Graveside Service Llano Cemetery Tuesday, February 04, 2020 2900 S. Hayes Amarillo, Texas 79103