Brenda L. Martinez

Brenda Laurie (Swisher) Martinez went to live in Heaven on July 28, 2024, with her immediate family by her side. Brenda was born in Salida, CO on July 24, 1960, to Jimmy L. and (Jean) Readon Swisher. She grew up in Salida and attended Salida schools. She married Rudy Martinez of Salida on June 30, 1979. Together, they raised three beautiful children. Brenda was the most loving and compassionate person anyone could ever meet. She was a wife and loving mother to her three children. Brenda loved and helped many feral cats and caught quite a few and gave them a beautiful and loving home. She loved the raccoons who would show up at her doorstep every night for a snack. She saw a dog’s picture in the Mountain Mail that needed a forever home and immediately she contacted the Ark-Valley Humane Society. Lilly the dog, left the shelter man times with a family, but then returned numerous times. Brenda loved Lilly giving her the home she so deserved. One winter, Brenda purchased a coat for Lilly and Lilly went out to the back yard and pranced around like she was a princess. Brenda and Rudy were married for 45 years. Rudy provided for Brenda and their children and Brenda was able to stay home and loved caring for her family. After Rudy retired from his work she continued cooking the baking for him. When she became ill, Rudy took the best care of her. She was no longer able to do the shopping and he took over that job. Rudy took over all the household jobs she was no longer able to do. Brenda refused hospice so Rudy took the best care of her. He would wake up at all hours of the night just to go make sure she didn’t need anything. During the day he continually cared for her, Brenda finally asked him to stay at home during the day in case she needed to get out of bed. Their children would run errands for their parents. She loved to cook and bake. You would find her up half the night making cinnamon rolls to surprise Rudy when he woke in the morning. She would make 8 pies at Thanksgiving, so she had enough for her family to take home. She always baked from scratch making her own pie crusts, doughnuts, cookies, cakes, dinner rolls and bread. Her meals were delicious, and she continually was on the hunt looking for new recipes to try. Brenda loved her family, and she adored her grandchildren. Brenda loved being home and taking care of her family. In later years, her three children visited her often or gave her a call each day. They and Rudy loved her so. She loved her three sisters. She was beautiful inside and out. Brenda will be missed by all her family and friends. She loved Jesus and talked with Him daily. Her love for our Lord was very real and her daughter, Readon would have long talks about Him. Readon also took her to various Dr. appointments to Denver, and Colorado Springs. June 30, this year was Rudy and Brendas’ 45th wedding anniversary. She wanted to make a nice dinner for Rudy but was too tired to cook so her son Joe asked for the recipe and made dinner for her and Rudy and took it to them. Whenever Joseph and Marci would make Indian Taco, they would make sure to take her a plate for dinner. Her daughter, Katrina was always a call away to help her mom with any errands. Katrina, who also loves to bake as much as Brenda would make beautiful desserts for her parents and when she went out of town would bring Kentucky Fried Chicken to them. Brenda’s sister Shelley Swisher Frasl was her lifelong best friend. Brenda was an avid Denver Bronco fan, never missing a game on TV. She would watch all pre-season games, too. Her children all had different football teams they cheered for so when the Broncos would beat one of their teams, she’d let them know about it and vice versa. They had lots of fun times with football. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Justin Martinez, her mom, Readon Magnuson, father, Jim Swisher, father-in-law Joe Martinez her brothers-in-law Vern Kelso and Jerry Wassel, nephew Julian Gonzales, niece Mandy Stotler and Mandy’s children Marissa and Mason, her very special best friend, Jeni Wheatley, and her dog, Lilly She is survived by her husband, mother-in-law Bernice Martinez, her children, Readon (Felix) Lucero, Joe Martinez (Marcie Conteras), Katrina Martinez (Joshua Gilbert), sisters Dawn R Wassel, Keri L Kelso, and Shelley (Swisher) Frasl, brother-in-law Ray (Barbara) Martinez, sisters-in-law, Cathy (Fred) Gonzales and Nancy (Ron) Martinez, grandchildren, Alexis Duchesne, Rae (Jordan) West, Jonah Duchesne, Samuel Tafoya, Jessica Clinton, Skylar Raby, and Starrla Raby, one great granddaughter, Marceline West and several nephews and nieces, aunts and uncles and cousins. Per her request there will be no services. In lieu of flowers donations in her name may be made to Ark-Valley Humane Society, Inc.

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