Beloved husband and father, Ivan Christopher Martinez died unexpectedly in Houston, Texas on May 27, 2023. He was 57 years old. Ivan was born on November 29, 1965, in Pecos, Texas. He graduated from Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas, and had two degrees from Texas Tech University – a B.A. in Political Science and Master’s in Public Administration. He was a founding Charter Member of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity and played football at Texas Tech. Ivan will best be remembered as someone who never met a stranger and never encountered a person he did not like. He was a kind, generous, hard-working, and thoughtful man who loved fishing, hunting, golf and simply “living his best life” as an entrepreneur.
Ivan met his wife, Michelle Salazar, in El Paso, Texas through mutual friends. They were married at La Misión de San Antonio de Ysleta del Sur in El Paso on June 6, 1992. They attended graduate school together and over the next 30 years raised their beautiful children on a strong foundation of faith, hope and love. Ivan is survived by Michelle and their three children, Christopher Jacob (wife Lera Danielle Martinez), Analicia Yvonne, and Lauren Ester; mother AnnaBelle (Uranga Martinez) Brown and step-father Michael Brown; brothers Victor Martinez and James Martinez (wife Malorie Martinez), sister Yvette (Martinez) Holguin (husband David Holguin); and grand-daughter Chandler Emerie Martinez (age 5); mother-in-law Alicia Salazar, brother-in-law Steve Aragon (wife Lita Gonzalez), sisters-in-law Marcie Aragon, Monica De Leon (husband Jose De Leon), Kristi Salazar, and Jaqueline Salazar. He is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews: Adam Salazar (wife Jessica Salazar), Gabrielle Gutierrez (husband Jesse Gutierrez), Joseph Aragon, Catalina Arellano (husband Ricky Arellano), Luisa Holguin, Noelle Salazar, Thomas Martinez, Aleksei Quintero, Devony Jones, Henry Martinez, Donovan Jones, Avery Salazar, Daniel Mata, Lily Salazar, Diago Gutierrez, and Jason Arellano. Ivan is also survived by business partners and life-long friends, Tony Alarcon and Sylvia Real y Vasquez.
Ivan is preceded in death by his father, Onexicmo Martinez, father-in-law Armando Salazar, and sister-in-law Carol Martinez.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at Cypress-Fairbanks Funeral Home, 9926 Jones Road, Houston, TX 77065. Ivan’s life will be celebrated with a Mass on Friday, June 2, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 7810 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, TX 77379. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities of Houston, or a charity of your choosing.
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