Annabell H. Martz

Annabell H. Martz, 92 of Fort Sumner, NM died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 at Laurel Ridge Care Center in Clovis, NM. Annabell Was born April 16, 1914 in Tucumcari, NM to the home of Hugh B. Horne and the former Olive Bennett. She grew up in El Paso, TX where she graduated from El Paso High School in 1931. She was a 1936 graduate of Baylor University School of Nursing, Dallas, TX and completed her post graduate study at Peabody Teachers College, Nashville, TN with a degree in Public Health Nursing in 1937. Mrs. Martz worked as Public Health Nurse in Austin, Fort Worth, and Fort Stockton, TX. While in Fort Stockton she met Frank W. Martz, they were married on August 31, 1942 in Alamogordo, NM. When World War II began she moved to Oklahoma City, OK where her husband was stationed. While there she was employed as Public Health Nurse and later as Industrial Nurse for Douglas Aircraft. After the war, she and her husband were in Midland, TX for two years before moving to the Triangle Ranch in Fort Sumner, NM in 1948. Mrs. Martz resumed her career in Public Health and then made the transition to work eleven years with Dr. E.D. Fikany from 1952-1963. These were great years for her as she assisted him in examination and care of patients in the office, assisted with surgery at the hospital, also acting as bookkeeper and receptionist in the office. Following a short time in Colorado she and her husband returned to Fort Sumner where she returned as Public Health Nurse half a day and School Nurse half a day. After six years of serving in this capacity she and her husband moved to Clovis where she was employed as District Public Health Nursing Supervisor from 1973-1977 after which she retired. Returning to Fort Sumner, she was called out of retirement to again be the school nurse from 1980-1982. Mrs. Martz loved serving people; you might say her life was very “public”. She so loved her family and her community. She did take time to do gardening, needlework, and also was a tremendous cook and excellent seamstress. Annabell was a longtime member of The Church on the Hill, served in the Hospital Auxiliary, De Baca County Chamber of Commerce receiving the “Hall of Fame” honor in 1988, also was very active in the Senior Citizens of De Baca County. She made her home at Laurel Ridge Care Center on May 1, 2003. Mrs. Martz was preceded in death by her husband Frank Martz Sr. in 1979, her parents, two brothers Donald Horne and Hugh Horne, a sister Marion Horne, and her son-in-law Mike Teeter. Survivors include a daughter Anna Teeter and a son Frank Martz and wife Carol all of Fort Sumner; four grandchildren Tracy Martz and wife Janet of Fort Sumner, Will Martz of Chicago, IL; Michele Finch and husband Carl of Dalhart, TX, Christie Lyssy and husband Jim of Fort Sumner. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren; Meagan Finch of College Station, TX; Caleb Finch of Dalhart, TX, Candace and Micah Lyssy of Fort Sumner and a sister Mildred Dunlap of Sierra Vista, AZ. A celebration of Annabell’s life will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 20, 2007 from The Church on the Hill in Fort Sumner, NM with Rev. Pete Jaramillo and Mike Foth officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Larry Davis, Lee Koll, George Gonzales, David Fikany, Rafael Roybal, and Simon Lucero. The family prefers memorial contributions to The Church on the Hill Memorial Fund PO Box 467, Fort Sumner, NM 88119, or The Fort Sumner Cemetery Association PO Box 180 Fort Sumner, NM 88119. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (505) 355-2311. For online condolences or to place a tribute please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com