Jose Martinez

Jose de Jesus Martinez, also known as “Jesse” and ‘Don Chuy’, Seminole resident, passed away on February 19, 2021, in Oklahoma City, OK. Jose was born on October 14, 1954 in Aguascalientes, Mexico to Alejo and Gregoria (Zapata) Martinez. Jose was self-employed as a landscaper.

Jose married Leonor Martinez Pina, on August 14, 1977, in San Francisco de los Romos, Aguascalientes, Mexico. In his younger years he loved playing and watching baseball, fishing, horse racing, chicken fighting and playing cards. Jose grew up farming in Mexico until the age of 14. Then he moved to the United States, lived in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma and spent the majority of his life in Seminole, OK, where he moved to in 1982. He also spent 20 years working for Miller’s Plant Farm in Seminole. Later he became self-employed, working and maintaining businesses and many resident’s properties in the surrounding areas, and took extreme pride in his work. He built a very good rapport with all of his customers and went out of his way to make sure they were satisfied with his work because he truly cared. Jose was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Seminole, OK. When he wasn’t busy working, he enjoyed watching his grandkids play basketball, spending time with family and friends, attending family functions, traveling to Mexico, and watching Spanish TV ‘Novelas’ with his loving wife Leonor, and Spanish news channel ‘Al Punto’ every Sunday. Jose enjoyed staying busy. He was a loyal, respected, honest, hardworking and selfless person who had a smile for everyone. He was very kindhearted and would always help anyone in need, regardless of the situation and without any stipulations. He would help from the kindness of his heart, never for attention. Jose was humble and soft spoken, always giving people the benefit of the doubt and always believing in and expecting the best of people. Jose was the type of person that would restore your faith in humanity because he was so genuinely caring and giving and the world is a little colder without him in it.

Jose is survived by his wife Leonor Martinez Pina; two sons, Omar and wife, Portia Martinez of Shawnee, OK, and Jose Martinez of Sallisaw, OK; daughter, Diana Martinez of Seminole, OK; brother, Guadalupe Martinez and wife, Maria de Jesus Lopez; sister, Teresa Martinez; seven grandchildren, Oscar Damian Zapata, Vanessa Jasmeen Zapata, Luana Denise Martinez, Armando Luis Martinez, Ruben Daniel Zapata, Evans Chambers Wise III, and Lucarious Dewayne Martinez; one great grandson, Oscar Drake Zapata and countless other nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.

Jose was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Francisco Martinez; sisters, Antonia Martinez Nunez, Carmen Martinez Prieto and Maria del Refugio Martinez Gomez.

A wake will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Seminole, OK on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 6:30 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Schwartz officiating. Burial will follow at Little Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, OK.