Elsie Martinez

The Cake Lady just wanted to make life sweeter…
Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Elsie Martinez, passed away peacefully Monday night, Nov. 13, after a brave but short battle with cancer. She was 81.
Elsie was known as “The Cake Lady,” as many birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions were celebrated with her creations.
She was very act

ive in the Texas Extension Education Association, Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW and the Caldwell County Republican Party. Crocheting afghans for nursing home patients was a project dear to her heart and she worked diligently to finish as many as she could. Elsie was known as a sweet, loving person. A stranger was not a stranger for very long and she had a hug for everyone.
Elsie Frieda Knoll was born March 31, 1925 in Karnes County, Texas to German settlers, Fritz Emile and Anna Rosina Knoll. Elsie loved her country, so when World War II began, she left the farm and went to work as an electrician”s helper. It was in this profession that she met and married her husband, Ramon T. Martinez. She became a dedicated wife and mother.
Her husband of 46 years preceded her in death, as did her precious oldest daughter – Janie Marie, and grandson – Edward Chase Elmendorf. She was also preceded in death by her parents and three sisters – Erna Boelter, Gertrude Kinchen and Hilda Pinkston, and a brother – Gerhardt “Chester” Knoll.
Elsie is survived by her only remaining brother, Gustav Knoll, of San Antonio; a sister-in-law, Ilse Knoll, of Fulda, Germany; two daughters, Rita Moore and husband, Lou, of Luling, and Lisa Nehring and husband, Charles, of Manor; and her sons Ray Martinez and Charlene Brown of Martindale, Robert Martinez and wife, Cindy, of Luling and Richard Martinez and wife, Kim, of Lockhart.
Elsie leaves a legacy of 14 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren; and loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews and many, many friends.
Services were held Friday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m., in the O”Bannon Funeral Chapel, with Father Adam Martinez and Rev. Hans Lillejard.
Interment was in Memory Lawn Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers were Jason Nehring, Brandon Nehring, Cato Martinez, Dustin Martinez, Korey Schuelke and Jason Rios; and honorary pallbearers were Shawn W. Cain, Shawn P. Martinez, Cade Moore and Tom Harmon.
Memorials may be made to the CTMC Hospice in San Marcos.