Jeannie Jo (Ornelas) Martinez July 27, 1968 ~ May 2, 2025 (age 56)

The Rosary for Jeannie Martinez, 56, of Portales, will be recited at 9:00 AM, Thurs., May 8, 2025 at St. Helen Catholic Church, and will be followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 AM with Fr. Francisco Carbajal officiating.  Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery with Julio Ramos, Juan Pablo Gaxiola, Romeo Viera, Jonathan Calloway, Isaiah Gaxiola, Pablo Gaxiola, Jr. and Gabriel D. Rascon, Jr. serving as pallbearers.

Jeannie Jo Martinez was born July 27, 1968 in Portales to the home of Elva (Zamarripa) and Jose Ornelas and passed from this life on Friday afternoon, May 2, 2025 in Lubbock, TX.  At the age of 16, she was married to Melito Viera in Muleshoe, TX.  They made their home in Big Spring, TX until 1992 when they came to Portales.  In 1996, they moved to Alamogordo, but returned to Portales a year later.  For several years she worked in the school cafeterias, and later in the Deli at IGA.  She had been retired since 2005.

Jeannie enjoyed watching Law and Order on television, talking on the phone and having her hair done.  She was an excellent cook, and among family favorites were her flour tortillas, her chili con queso, and a variety of deserts.  In addition, she loved to dance, especially with her grandchildren.  She was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church.

She is survived by her longtime partner, John Thomas Smith; her son, Meliton Viera of Portales; two daughters, Bianca and Juan Pablo Gaxiola and Melissa Viera and her fiancé, Julio Ramos of Portales; 14 grandchildren; her mother and step-father, Elva and Bernabe Urbina of Kenna, NM; four brothers, Jose Ornelas of Portales, Carlos and Pearla Piedra of Odessa, TX, Jose Luis Ornelas of Portales and Enrique Ornelas of Pecos, TX; and a sister, Laura Ayala and her fiancé, Gil Puebla of Portales.  She was preceded in death by her father, a brother, Miguel Angel Ornelas and by her husband, Melito Viera who died Aug. 10, 2014.

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