LeRoy Martinez, 51

LeRoy J. Martinez, 51, of Glenns Ferry, died suddenly surrounded by his family on May 16, 2004, at home.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 19, from 4-7 p.m. at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, at Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church in Glenns Ferry. Burial will follow at Glenn Rest Cemetery in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements are under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

LeRoy was born Dec. 9, 1952, in Greeley, Colo., to Celestino and Sofia Martinez. He moved with his family at a young age to Idaho. He lived in Houston, Buhl and Rupert. The family later moved to Ogden, Utah.

After attending school he worked at the Star Station in Ogden and Salt Lake. He moved back to Rupert were he worked for Simplot. He then moved to Buhl and drove truck.

It was there in 1973 he met and married Joanne Sherman of Glenns Ferry.

They moved to Caldwell were he ran the Shell Station, then later moved to Glenns Ferry were they made their home.

LeRoy farmed for several years for Sailor Creek and Schrader Farms. He then went back to truck driving, which he always loved. He drove for Crane Farms, Draper Farms, May Trucking and Penn Pacific.

In 1993, LeRoy bought his own truck and started Martinez Trucking, which he owned and operated. He hauled agriculture for Crane Farms and sand and gravel for Western Construction.

In 2001, he was forced to retire because of his health.

LeRoy had many friends and touched many lives, his family said. "His most precious moments were spent with his family -- BBQ's in the backyard, working on the trucks with his boys, helping Christy and Adrian by coaching the baseball teams, and playing with Tanner and Cierra. His grandchildren were the light of his life. He was loved a lot and will be missed by many."

LeRoy is survived by: his wife, Joanne; children Christy (Daniel) Martinez and Jay Martinez of Glenns Ferry, Casey (Kelly) Martinez of Nampa, and Jeri Inman of Brigham City, Utah; three grandchildren; brothers Pete (Kathy) Martinez of Rush Valley, Utah, Leo (Debbie) Martinez of Buhl and Rudy Martinez of Iowa; sisters Lucy Acosta of Pocatello, Betty (George) Zimmers, Marie (Brian) Kersey, Kathy (Bud) Liptrap and Linda (Chris) Gonterman, all of Buhl and many nieces, nephews and extended family friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, David, and four brothers, Gilbert, Hank, Jimmy and Eddie.