Richard Martinez

Richard Michael Martinez, age 74, passed away October 20, 2026, at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City. He fought a long battle with liver cancer and has finally found peace with his Heavenly Father. He was born September 29th, 1952, in Ogden Utah to Marcos Martinez and Ernestina Barela Martinez. Richard grew up in Clearfield, Utah and graduated from High-school there. He was raised as a catholic and attended mass regularly at St Rose of Lima where he completed all his sacraments and religious education.

Richard was someone who will be remembered for his boisterous laugh, and his mischievous ways. He always had a great sense of humor, kindness, friendliness, strength, and took pride in his work. Throughout his life he has managed to figure out things quickly and on his own. He always found ways to make a little pocket change by mowing lawns, cleaning snow off driveways, and doing small jobs around the neighborhood. His grandpa would pile all the kids in the car and go cherry picking for 15 cents a pound. His dad would take him out to pick tomatoes, but I think he threw more tomatoes at his brothers than what went in the basket. When he was young he was the first to grow his hair out while his brothers kept their flat top until he told them how to have it properly cut. He signed himself up for community sports including baseball, football, archery, and swimming. He also played baseball for the American Legion team for as long as he could. After high school graduation he followed in his older brother’s footsteps and joined the Navy from 1970-1972 where he visited the Philippines, Guam, and Vietnam aboard the USS Midway. Every time he came home on leave, he always brought a friend with him and they managed to pile a weeks-worth of fun into one weekend with little to no sleep!

After his service he was employed by the Boeing Company as a “Sanitation Engineer”. After a layoff he tried many other jobs like working in the oil fields for Chevron and other companies that took him to Eastern Utah and Rangeley, Colorado. After years of random and unfulfilling work he decided to help a buddy build his house in Southern Utah. He fell in love with Cedar City and decided to stick around. Someone contacted him after building his friend’s house and said “are you the painter for that house that just got finished? I have another job for you!” To which Richard replied “I’ll take it” never having done much painting before he decided he could do it. He bid the job, got the job, and completed the job with very happy customers! In that moment he decided he was going to start his own industrial painting company. Interstate Painting was a very successful business that he took so much pride in. Till his dying day he still puttered around with paint brushes and bossed people around job sites while teaching his beloved trade to his grandsons. Richard took great pride in his family and loved them deeply. While he never found his forever partner in life he still lived life to the fullest. His laughter was contagious and brought joy to everyone around him. Some of his favorite things to do with family and friends was to eat great food. Whether he was cooking or he was taking you out to eat, he enjoyed a good meal shared with the people he loved most. When we think of Richard, let us always remember his ambition to always stay busy and find new ways to follow our dreams.

These memories remind us that a person’s life is not measured only in years, but in the moments they create and the lives they touch.

He is survived by his three daughters Ashlee Lambeth (Tyler) of Cedar City UT, Tracy Gines (Michael) of Bountiful UT, and Cameo Hernandez (Jason) of Washington UT, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren, and his brother Marcos Martinez (Kattie) of West Point UT.

He is preceded in death by his parents Marcos and Ernestina Martinez, sister Connie Kilgore, and brother Ronald Martinez.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 2nd, 2026 at 11:00 am at Southern Utah Mortuary in Cedar City, Utah (190 N 300 W). The viewing will be held prior to the service at 9:30 am. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent at www.mortuary.org