Luis Martinez

Luis Martinez of Plainview, Texas, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026, in Lubbock, Texas, surrounded by his family. He was 67 years old.

Luis was born on June 27, 1959, in Plainview, Texas, to Calixto Martinez and Petra Felan. He graduated from Plainview High School in 1978 and spent his life building a legacy defined by hard work, family, determination, and a willingness to help others.

In 1979, Luis married Dora Lopez, and together they welcomed their children, Jessica and Andrew Luis. During their 17 years of marriage, Luis worked as a manager at United Supermarkets. He was an involved and devoted father who loved playing softball and coaching his children in baseball and basketball. Those years created memories and a foundation of family that remained an important part of his life.

Following a period of single life, a new chapter began In 1998, when Luis met Diane Lopez at Checker Auto Parts. They began building their life together that year, sharing a home and blending their families before marrying on March 23, 2002, in Plainview, Texas. Through their union, Luis warmly embraced his stepchildren, John, Christopher, and Riane, loving them as his own.

Luis spent 26 years working as a manager for O'Reilly Auto Parts, where his intelligence, strong work ethic, mechanical ability, and determination served him well. He was the kind of person who could fix just about anything. A true jack of all trades, Luis was always willing to lend a hand, solve a problem, or figure out how to make something work.

Luis was also fiercely competitive-in the best possible way. Whether he was playing softball, bowling, coaching, or simply enjoying time with family, he loved a little competition and was always happy to claim the bragging rights.

He took great pride in his home and especially his yard. His lawn was nearly always picture-perfect, and if it wasn't, Luis could be found carefully and skillfully bringing it back to the way he wanted it. He believed in doing things right and took satisfaction in seeing the finished result.

And then there were the Dallas Cowboys.

Luis was a lifelong, avid, and passionate Cowboys fan. He stayed loyal through the glorious wins, the heartbreaking losses, and all the frustrating seasons in between. There was never any question that he would trade his team for another-they were his team. And while Luis was always willing to help fix something or lend a hand, there was one important exception: you did not ask Luis to work on anything when the Cowboys were playing.

Above all, Luis will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his hardworking nature, his competitive spirit, his mechanical know-how, his generosity in helping others, and the many memories he created through coaching, bowling, softball, family gatherings, and simply being there when someone needed him.

Luis is survived by his wife, Diane Martinez; daughter, Jessica Bellejo and husband Robert; son, Andrew Luis Martinez and wife Macy; step-son, John Alonzo III and wife Bailey; step-son, Christopher Salinas and wife Josephine; step-daughter, Riane Corral and husband Hugo; mother, Petra Carranza; brother, Mark Martinez and wife Estella; brother, Rueben Martinez and wife Chris; sister, Linda Osio and husband Aggeo; sister, Gloria Alvarez and husband Bert; sister, Victoria Garza and husband Roy; and 10 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Calixto Martinez Sr., and his brother, Calixto Martinez Jr.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Venue on Broadway, 2202 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at The Venue on Broadway, with burial following the service at Peaceful Memorial Gardens Park.

Luis leaves behind a family who will remember his strong hands, his determined spirit, his quick ability to fix almost anything, his competitive streak, his perfectly kept yard, and his unwavering loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys. Most of all, he leaves behind a lifetime of memories-and a family who will carry those memories with them always.