Memorials › Patrick Martinets
Patrick Martinets
27 Jul 1939 – 8 Nov 2015
| Birth | 27 Jul 1939 |
| Death | 8 Nov 2015 |
| Cemetery | Palm Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery Round Rock , Williamson County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | connie marks on 23 Sep 2017 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154904199 |
Bio
Patrick Martinets of Round Rock, Texas, former longtime Texas newsman, died Sunday, November 8, 2015. He was a fifth generation Texan and a direct descendant of two of Stephen F. Austin's "Old Three Hundred" families that settled Texas, Rachel Rabb and Joseph Newman. He was born in Temple, Texas on July 27, 1939 in the original, wooden Scott and White Hospital near downtown Temple. He graduated from Granger High School in 1957 and attended Texas Christian University on an academic scholarship where he majored in Piano and English. He later changed his major to Journalism with a minor in Government. His love of all types of music remained with him throughout his life. He continued to play the piano almost until the end of his life. He held a variety of jobs during his lifetime including: jackhammer operator on a Texas Highway Department construction crew, bartender, bank messenger, commercial truck dispatcher and payroll clerk for a produce company. He once lived and worked at a dude guest ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas. He loved animals, especially horses, cattle and dogs. He was a long-standing member of the American Quarter Horse Association. Patrick joined the U.S. Army and was among the last group of soldiers to take their basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. He was stationed at Fort Ord, California where he was a Specialist 4 with the Combat Development Experiment Command. While at the sprawling Fort Ord base he once was selected "Soldier of the Month." He also spent two weeks training with a military police unit at the Presidio of San Francisco. After an honorable discharge from the Army he remained on the Fort Ord base working for the Army Education Center helping GIs earn their GEDs. In 1964 he married Katherine Herbst of Salinas, California and they raised four children, Mark, Leigh-Anna, Jason and Cynthia. He considered his marriage and his children to be the highest and greatest achievements of his life. He also believed he was especially blessed with two beautiful and talented granddaughters, Taylor and Hannah Bode, as well as an extraordinary grandson, Asa Martinets, with whom he felt a special connection. His love for all of them was unending and unconditional. Kathy was the great love of his life. In the mid-1960s Patrick began working for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram where he covered the police beat, city hall, county courthouse and federal courthouse. He became Mid-Cities Bureau Chief in Arlington covering activities in several area communities. He was later transferred to Austin and ultimately became Capitol Bureau Chief for the Star-Telegram with offices on the second floor of the Texas State Capitol. He had been a member of the Headliners Club for more than 30 years. During his journalistic career he covered six U.S. Presidents and six Texas Governors as well as numerous regular and special sessions of the Texas Legislature. He also covered many political campaigns and state and national conventions including a rare Texas Constitutional Convention. Patrick left the Star-Telegram and became a speech writer and assistant to Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Mack Wallace. After Chairman Wallace retired Patrick remained at the Commission working as an Enforcement Administrator in the Surface Mining and Reclamation Division. He retired from the State of Texas in 2001. Patrick was the youngest son of Jerry and Gladys Reynolds Martinets, both deceased. Both of his brothers, Jerry Jr. of Denver, Colorado and Edgar Martinets and wife Janis of Taft, Texas are also deceased. He is survived by his wife of almost 51 years, Katherine Martinets, his children Mark Martinets (Cynthia), Leigh-Anna Martinets (Steve Orrell), Jason Martinets and Cynthia Bode (Zane), his grandchildren Taylor Bode, Hannah Bode and Asa Martinets and his bonus grandchildren Taryn McCarty, Bailey Orrell and Sam Orrell. He is also survived by his cousin Billy Fikes of Taft, his nephews Bret Martinets (Tonia) of Spring Branch, Texas and Peter Martinets (Veronica) of Chicago, Illinois, his nieces Julie Edwards (Taylor) of Sinton, Texas and Peggy Daily (Eric) of Parker, Colorado, his great-nephews Trey Martinets (Michelle), Justin Martinets (Britanie) (TX), Corey Martinets, Dylan Sharp, Tanner Sharp, Justin Martinets (IL), Cooper Daily and Carter Daily, one great-grand nephew Oliver Martinets and two great-grand nieces, Ira Martinets and Addisyn Martinets. In addition, he is survived by his brother-in-law Paul Herbst (Judy) of Roseville, California and their son David Cocchiara (Stephanie) of Atlanta, Georgia. The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who lovingly cared for Patrick over the years, particularly Elbert David, M.D., Laura Gilbey, M.D. and Michael Grad, M.D. Also, a special thank you is extended to his at-home caregiver, Sharon Kaspar and his beloved hospice nurse Griselda Pulido, RN along with his Hospice Austin social workers and chaplains. Their exceptional care and compassion throughout his final months allowed him to enjoy an independent life at home to the end. Visitation is at Beck Funeral Home, 4765 Priem Lane, Pflugerville. Funeral services are at First Baptist Church, Round Rock. Burial immediately following at Palm Valley Church cemetery, Round Rock. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations made to the charity of your choice. Published in Austin American-Statesman from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, 2015
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