Our beloved Mother, Margaret Martinez Gonzales passed away Sunday evening October 29, 2006, at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston, Texas. She was sixty-seven years old, born on May 4, 1939, in Encinal, TX. Raised in GaIveston by her mother Herminia Diaz and stepfather, Melecio Diaz, she attended Stephen F. Austin Jr. High where she participated in the band playing the clarinet. She worked for Walgreen Drug Stores for twenty five years and spent her free time taking care of her grandchildren, collecting Barbie dolls and shopping for depression glass with her sisters.

She is preceded in death by her father Simone Martinez, stepfather Melecio Diaz Sr., her mother Herminia Diaz, her sister Lucia Lopez and daughter Cynthia Marie Corpus. She is survived by her loving husband Charles 'Chopsy' Gonzales Jr., children Margaret Frances Abete and husband Ruben, Frank Martin Corpus, Gloria Jean Castillo and husband Robert, Cheryl Dawn Gonzales, and Charles Christopher Gonzales, grandchildren Jesus Ruben Abete and wife Areli, Elisa Nicole Valdez and husband Geronimo, Ruben Gabriel Abete, Ashley Marie Gonzales, Alexis Yvette Castillo, Anita Marie Gonzales, Andrea Rene Carillo and husband Eric, great grandchildren Melissa Angelica Nicole Ramirez, Luis Ruben Abete, and Noel Carillo, sister Dolores Vega and husband Paul, brother Elias Martinez and wife Maria, sisters Vickie and Gracie Diaz, brother Melecio Diaz and wife Linda, sister Juanita Ferrell and husband Dwight, brother Raymond Diaz and wife Beatriz, nieces and nephews Belinda, Paula, Victor, Valerie, Veronica, Dominic, Teresa and Melissa Martinez, Michael Diaz, David Diaz, and Regina Diaz (raised by Margaret) and her children Nicolette Luhan, Daniel Portillo (Godson) and Christopher Portillo, sister-in-law Irma Garza and husband Rudy and children Rudy, Elena, Sandy, Nickolas, and Denise and brother-in-law Richard Gonzales and wife Mary, and close friends Jesse and Mary Tavares and Tony and Lily Rios and everyone whose name not mentioned but still held close to heart and home those people who touched Margaret's life everyday by thought, word or deed, passing her in the street or walking through the drugstore doors ... all co-workers . . . we, the family, thank you for being a memorable part of Mom's life.

The Rosary will be held at Carnes Brothers Funeral Home on Thursday, November 2nd at 6:30 pm with visitation between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. A Mass preceding the funeral will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Friday, November 3rd at 10:00 am with the funeral procession gathering at Carnes Brothers Funeral Home at 9:00 am leaving to the church and then proceeding to Calvary Cemetery immediately following the Mass.

Pall bearers will include brothers Melecio Diaz Jr., Raymond J. Diaz, son Frank Corpus, son-in-law Ruben Abete, and grandsons Jesus and Ruben Abete. Honorary pallbearers will include son, Charles Christopher Gonzales, brother, Elias Martinez, brother-in-law Paul Vega, friends, Jesse Tavares and Tony Rios, and nephews, Victor and Dominic Vega. Friends and assistants with funeral arrangements include Officer Jimmy De Los Santos, Officer Rick McCullor, Officer William Tanner, Ret., John Clarke, Joe Sandoval,  Jason Farmer and Trey Acosta, Motor Officer Jeremy Smart, Officer Gordon Pean and Capt. Darrell Isaacks.

The entire Gonzales family would like to thank the physicians and supporting staff for the kindness and care they gave while our mother was in admittance at John Sealy Hospital.