Louise Martinez

Mulvane - Maxine Louise Martinez, 101, passed away peacefully during her sleep on July 10, 2025, at her home of 46 years, surrounded by several of her loving children. Louise was just one month short of turning 102. She was born August 30, 1923, to Elbert (E.B.) Harvey and Anna Harvey (Schwenke) in Fairview, OK. She was the third of four daughters who were known to many as the “Harvey girls”.

Louise grew up in Hennessey and Kingfisher, OK. She graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1941. She loved attending school and had perfect attendance during her school career. She began driving a car at the ripe old age of 12; she continued driving the streets until the age of 96. Upon graduation from high school, Louise moved to Wichita KS to live with her folks. While attending a dance at the well-known Wichita “Shadowland Club”, a handsome young man named Joe Martinez, from Pecos, NM, who was visiting the area in search of a job, asked Louise for a dance. That went very well and by the end of the night, Joe told Louise he would like to drive her home, however he did not have a car. She let him know that she did have a car (of course she did) and that she & her sister could drive him home, which they did. Joe & Louise were together from that night on; they were married on August 3, 1943 while Joe was stationed, with the Army-Air Force, in Leisburg, FL. Upon Joe's return from the Pacific theater in WWII, the couple returned to KS where they purchased a home in Udall, KS where Louise's parents were then residing. Against all odds, Louise survived one of the worst tornadoes in our country's history in 1955 while living in Udall. With her husband in New Mexico with his ailing mother, she saved herself, her two young children, Linda and Randy, & the family dog. Sadly, Louise's mother was one of 20% of the town to lose their life. Following the tornado, Louise and Joe built a new home in Udall where they resided until moving to Mulvane, KS in 1956 where they resided for the remainder of their lives. Louise and Joe were married for 70 years, until Joe passed away in Oct. 2013. They were a loving couple, who built a life centered around family, faith and hard work. They remained parishioners of St. Michael's Catholic Church for 69 years.

Louise was a devoted wife and a proud & loving mother to their five children, grandmother to her 11 grandchildren, and great-grandmother to her 6 great-grandchildren. As a young mother, she was a stay-at-home mom who was active in and attended all of her children's school and sporting events and was often the organizer. She loved having a yard or house full of neighborhood children over to play with her own children. Louise was a talented seamstress and made many of her own clothes as well as clothing for her children. She was not only a wonderful mother to her five children, but a loving example to many of the local children & her grandchildren whom she babysat once her own children reached school age. Long after her children had grown, Louise remained active as a parishioner of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Red Hats, delivering Meals on Wheels, visiting residents at the Villa Maria and her daily walks at the Mulvane Recreation Center. Louise also loved sharing time with her husband at their second home in the beautiful mountains of Cedaredge, CO where their daughter, Linda, also resided. They would spend 5-6 months out of the year in CO. They maintained their homes in Mulvane and Cedaredge,CO for 12 years until fully retiring in Mulvane in 1998.

Louise touched countless lives with her kindness, friendly personality (she never met a stranger), and her warm smile, laugh & giggle. She lived life to the fullest! She loved children, taking care of her family, dancing with her husband, maintaining her flowers, sewing, eating desserts & her daily ice cream, all animals, especially dogs, and having her home full of family (the more, the merrier). She loved a big celebration and absolutely never wanted to miss out on any get-together! In Louise's later years, she continued to enjoy playing dominoes,working crossword puzzles, dressing up everyday with makeup and jewelry,and watching “The Andy Griffith Show” and John Wayne movies. Although Louise was a centenarian, she never talked of her own death; she loved life and wanted to be on this earth as long as she could be with her loved ones. Remember, she never wanted to miss out on anything! Louise and Joe's son, David, dedicated his life to taking care of his parents for 16 years, 365 days a year. This was in addition to running his own Chiropractic practice. He surrendered his own desires to serve his parents; their longevity can be attributed to his tedious care. He is the true meaning of a Godly servant.

Louise was preceded in death by her loving husband of 70 years, Joe Salomon Martinez; her parents E.B. and Anna Harvey, her three sisters, brother and sister-in-laws, and several nieces and nephews.

Louise is survived by sons, Randy (Jennifer) of Brentwood, TN, Gary (Deborah) of Derby,KS and David of Derby, KS; daughters, Linda (Bruce) Croft of Humble,TX and Sheena (Kyle) Parks of Ft. Scott, KS; grandchildren, Brice Croft, Aaron Croft, Amber Haynes, Chelsea Martinez Stouffer, Cameron Martinez Dreimiller, Valentun Martinez, Daniels Martinez, Austin Parks, Laine Leek, Lauren Martinez, and Michael Martinez; great-grandchildren, Jordyn Croft, Sterling Haynes, Hayden Haynes, Grayson Haynes, Jayci Leek, and Cora Stouffer.

A special thank you to her dedicated caretakers, Connie Robinson and Tamra Farmer, for their loving care, and gentle support which they provided to Louise and her family.

Louise will be remembered as a selfless, loving, fun, and always present wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; she was always graceful, until the day God called her home. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all of those who were blessed to know and love her.

Rosary: 7pm Friday, July 18, 2025, at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Funeral Mass: 10 am, Saturday July 19, 2025, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 525 E Main St, Mulvane, KS 67110. Interment to follow at Mulvane Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's Catholic Church, 525 E Main St Mulvane, KS 67110 or Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67219.