Dates
Arthur “Toy” Martinez, 59, of Mereta, TX gained his angel wings on January 13, 2025. Those who loved him dearly knew him as Babe, Daddy, Popo, Toyota & Toyska. He was born on September 21, 1965 in San Angelo, TX to Otilio Sr. & Tina Martinez. Arthur married Elisa on September 27, 1986 and had 2 beautiful daughters. They were blessed with 38 years together.
Toy worked for Mereta Oil Company for 30 years as a tire serviceman and mastered the skill so well that people would gather to watch in amazement at how fast he could complete the task. He later went on to obtain his CDL license and worked as a truck driver traveling from state to state including: Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona and several different cities in Texas making lots of friends along the way.
Toy was known for his loyalty, friendliness and of course his witty sense of humor always having a joke for anyone he encountered. He embraced life enthusiastically and took great pride in being a loving father and a dedicated family man. His precious grandsons, Kamron and Luka were “his boys!” Popo always took them fishing and they loved to cruise around town in his truck. Toy was his mothers Angel and his fathers Machito, meaning his #1. In his younger years, he and his brother Jr. would fight like cats and dogs but ultimately was protective of all his siblings (John, Andrew, Mariza and Virginia) and loved them hard.
Toys #1 passion was cooking! He was the “master chef” on the grill and in the kitchen! Toy won many awards and prizes throughout the years for his infamous brisket, including 1st place at the Miles Cotton Festival. On any given day he would take his wife and daughter burritos for their whole office staff leaving them all to ask for more. When he was working out of town, his coworkers would purposely look for his truck because they knew him as the “burrito man.” Amongst cooking he also loved the outdoors and always took the family camping trips, fishing and hunting. He was an avid sports fan supporting teams like Americas team THE Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and Texas Longhorns. He was a great softball coach and dedicated his time to the youth in Mereta and surrounding areas including his daughters.
Most of us will remember Toy as the greatest storyteller, one leading into another and possibly another but you could bet it was always funny. And oh what a jokester he was. Some of you may wonder how he got the nickname Toy, so let me tell you… When he was a young little boy he would go to the store with his parents and you can bet he was not going to leave that store without a “Toy” in his hand. He may have been small but he sure was mighty!
Anyone who knew Toy knew he had a heart of gold- he would help anyone in need and never knew a stranger. He lit up any room he entered with his infectious laughter. Everywhere he went he would stop to visit someone he knew. To know him was to love him. We will forever miss your “good morning” and especially the “I love you with all my heart” texts. Until we meet again “en un rinconcito en el cielo.”
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Tiffani Leann Martinez, his father, Otilio Martinez Sr. and his brother, Juan Martinez.
Arthur is survived by his mother Tina Martinez, wife, Elisa Martinez, his siblings Virginia Garcia, Andrew Martinez, Mariza Martinez and Otilio Martinez Jr, his daughter Berlynn Zuniga and husband Jamie, his grandchildren Kamron Dominguez, Luka Zuniga, Elijah Zuniga and wife Ashley, Demarcus Greenwood, Joey Zuniga and fiancé Ajay and his great-grandchildren Ashton Zuniga, Israel Ramirez, Elianna Zuniga, Zeliana Zuniga and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.
Services for Arthur are pending at this time.