Betty Griffin Kennedy
Betty Griffin Kennedy died Nov. 6, 2008 at the Medical Center of the Rockies. She was born July 14, 1945 in Tulsa, Okla., the child of William E. Fletcher and Betty Fletcher. She attended elementary and preparatory school in Tulsa. When she was nine years old, her father, an avid horseman and a member of the Tulsa Shrine Mounted Patrol, introduced her to her first horse, Friday. From then on, horses became her lifelong passion.
Kennedy attended the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Tulsa University. She attained four degrees, including an MSW and an MBA. She was a CPA licensed to practice in Oklahoma and Colorado. She pursued her horse passion through boarding, breeding and training American Quarter Horses. She regularly showed her horses in Western Reining events. Her zest for the outdoors and her passion for animals won her many friends.
She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Kelsey Kennedy of Berthoud, stepchildren Amy Kennedy of Oklahoma City, Okla., Shannon Kennedy of Tulsa, Okla., Kelsey Kennedy III of Arroyo Grande, Calif., and five grandchildren.
Services were held on Wednesday at Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home. Interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, Berthoud Colo. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shrine Children’s Hospital in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, 1102 Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO 80537.
Carmen Martinez
Carmen Mary Martinez, 57, of Erie, Colo., died Nov. 7, 2008, at Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville.
Born on Nov. 5, 1951, in Fort Collins, Colo., to Jose C. and Josephine (Lopez) Naranjo, she and her siblings were raised in Berthoud by their loving surrogate parents, LeRoy and Margaret Salazar, as her biological parents passed away at a young age. She graduated from Berthoud High School in 1970, and studied cosmetology in Fort Collins and Greeley.
On July 15, 1972, she married Anastacio “Nash” Martinez, Jr. in Loveland. The couple was blessed with two boys, Bruce and Nash Martinze III. Prior to being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Martinez worked for several years as the housekeeping manager for the Hilton in Boulder and also for the Halls Grocery Store in Erie.
Martinez was a member of the Erie Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary and St. Scholastica Catholic Church. She enjoyed knitting, crossword puzzles, watching the Denver Broncos and game shows including Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Most of all, she cherished time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Nash, of Erie; sons, Bruce Martinez and his wife, Dawn of Erie, and Anastacio “Nash” Martinez, III of Westminster; two grandsons, Michael Ferrera-Martinez and Braedon Martinez; and her siblings, Mary Naranjo, Joe (Joyce) Naranjo, Manuel (Barb) Naranjo, Roger (Karen) Naranjo, Cathy (Alfred) Gonzalez, Michael (Leticia) Naranjo, Georgia Rivas, as well as Geri, Bobby, Liza, Rodney and Oretta Salazar. She is also survived by brothers-in-law, Orlando and Chipper Martinez; sisters-in-law, Frances Ayala, Rosalie and Emma Martinez; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Martinez was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Frank Naranjo, Tino Trujillo, and Isabelle Velasquez.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Howe Mortuary, Longmont. A rosary service will follow at 7 p.m. at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Erie. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, at St. Scholastica with The Reverend Hernan Florez as Celebrant.
Memorial donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Colorado Chapter, Broadway Station, 900 S. Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80209.
Please share thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.