Maria Luisa Martinez January 29, 1932 August 31, 2006 DEL RIO, Texas "Maria Luisa Martinez, a legal secretary and office manager whose career spanned more than a half century, died Thursday. She was 74. Ms. Martinez was a fixture in the local legal community where she worked closely with dozens of lawyers and developed broad expertise in real estate and probate law. At her retirement party last October, one former employer remarked that Ms. Martinez may have been the second longest-serving �"lawyer"�"� in Del Rio after her first employer, attorney Arturo C. Gonzalez. Ms. Martinez never attended college or law school, yet many attorneys credit her with schooling them in the fine points of local legal protocol. Among her professional achievements, Ms. Martinez was named the first executive secretary of the Val Verde Bar Association, which recognized her extraordinary efforts in support of rural legal services. �"Mary has kept the legal community in Val Verde County alive and strong, directing it to the well-respected area that it is today,"�"� Barbara Earle, local services director for the Texas bar association, said in a letter marking Ms. Martinez"�s retirement. �"Mary has made friends all over the state"�These friends have turned to Mary for guidance and friendship on many occasions."�"� In addition to her legal work, Ms. Martinez was active in civic organizations and served as a volunteer in municipal political campaigns. She was a member of the International Bridge Board; she also served as a volunteer host for the National Park Service"�s Trails & Rails program. Ms. Martinez was one of several Trails & Rails guides who offered richly-detailed narratives of local history, native wildlife and the West Texas ranching tradition as she traveled with visitors on Amtrak"�s Sunset Limited rail cars between Del Rio and Alpine. �"Mary"�s friendliness and professionalism have earned her the respect of the Del Rio community,"�"� former Del Rio Mayor Dora Alcala said in a proclamation marking Oct. 6, 2005, as �"Maria Luisa Martinez Day"�"� in the city. Ms. Martinez became increasingly active in the community following the 1993 death of her husband, Robert E. Martinez. Ms. Martinez and Mr. Martinez were married for 43 years. They traveled often to New York, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. And they enjoyed frequent visits with family. Ms. Martinez is survived by daughter, Rose Marie Martinez Hagman of Austin and her husband, Randy Hagman; daughter, Gebe Martinez Johnson of Alexandria, Va., and husband, Kevin Johnson; daughter, Gloria Martinez Sandoval of Dallas and husband, Victor Sandoval; granddaughter, Stephanie Sandoval; sister, Socorro Valadez of Buda; sister, Josefina Fernandez of Del Rio; sister, Carmen Trevino of San Antonio; sister, Cecilia Mendez of Del Rio; a brother, George Camarillo of San Antonio; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband, Ms. Martinez was preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Maria Camarillo and brothers Ignacio and Carlos Camarillo. Visitation will held Sunday, September 3, 2006 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, Chapel of Remembrance with a recitation of a rosary at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, September 4, 2006 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Father Gabriel Maria de la Santa Cruz and Deacon Robert Kusenberger will be officiating. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Oaks Cemetery. The pall bearers are: Alfonso Trevino of San Antonio; Richard Fernandez of Del Rio; Brian Bell of Austin; Jose Perez of Del Rio; Alfonso Alcala of Del Rio; George Camarillo; Randy Hagman; and Kevin Johnson. Honorary pall bearers are: Dr. Manual Martinez of Del Rio; Dr. Aurelio Diaz of San Antonio, TX. Isidro Rocha of California; Manny Rangel of Del Rio; Guty Gonzalez of Del Rio; Eduardo Castaneda of Del Rio; Arturo C. Gonzalez of Del Rio; Hilary Doran of California; Haygood Gulley of Del Rio; Watt Murrah of Castroville, Tx.; Quinton Etzel Jr. of Del Rio; John Foster of San Antonio, Tx Hodge of Del Rio; and C. Pat Ellis of Del Rio. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio and Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Spring Road, Austin, Texas, 78759. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 2020 Bedell Ave., Del Rio, Texas 78840 (830) 778-2020, www.sunsetfuneralhomes.com