Joe “Shoebox” Luis Martinez, lifelong resident of Hereford, passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Hereford at the age of 64.

Joe was born on May 21, 1962, in Hereford to Natividad and Anita (Cruz) Martinez. He worked as a truck driver for Hereford Grain, building a career on the road and earning the CB handle “Shoebox.” He was a member of the Genesis Baptist Church and Primera Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Vida.

Joe was always happy, he enjoyed driving, playing darts, visiting the casino, and eating good food. He had a playful sense of humor and liked teasing others in good fun. He was a good, kind, generous man who loved his family and dogs and was always willing to help. A skilled handyman, Joe was ready to fix anything for anyone.

He is preceded in death by his parents Natividad and Anita Martinez, sisters Petra Martinez, Cynthia Martinez, Valeria Castellano, and Pola Cepeda, and brother Augustin Martinez.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 26 years, Maria Celaya of Hereford, Texas; sisters Nicha Gaitan of Hereford, Bertha Rios of Hereford, Isabel Claudio and her husband Rafael of Hereford, Angie Martinez, of Houston, Texas, Mary Coronado and her husband Jesse of Plainview, Texas, Anita Arango of Ft Worth, Texas, Gloria Gamez of Pollok, Texas, Oralia Ruiz and her husband Tomas of Lazbuddie, Texas, Nora Perales and her husband Nelson of Pasadena, Texas, and Matilda Wooden and her husband William of Athens, Georgia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation and viewing will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 2:00 – 8:00 PM at Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home, a prayer service honoring Joe will begin at 6:00 PM. Arrangements and Cremation Services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford.