Martin L. Abeyta, 84, loving father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on April 27. He was born in Sarcillo, CO, to Leonarda and J.D. Abeyta and attended Primero High School where he was a star athlete in basketball, football, and track, district 800m track champion, and valedictorian of his senior class. He attended Trinidad State Junior College, then joined the US Navy, serving during the Korean War which included duty as an Aviation Electronics Technician on the aircraft carrier USS Phillipine Sea. Upon completion of his service, he returned to Colorado and began his Civil Service career, working at the Pueblo Army Depot. In 1964, he accepted a position with the Redstone Arsenal Missile Maintenance Directorate as an equipment specialist on the Lance guided missile with assignments at Ft. Sill Oklahoma, South Korea and Germany. In 1978, he was permanently assigned to Redstone Arsenal until his retirement in 1987. He received numerous meritorious service awards during his Civil Service. He continued his career as an electrical engineer for Teledyne Brown Engineering before permanent retirement in 1991. During his retirement, he enjoyed fishing and boating at his home on the Elk River, spending time with his grandchildren, cooking tamales for his family, and cheering on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Celia Strock and Ann Padilla, and beloved daughter, Dr. Stacy Abeyta Tucker. He is survived by his loving daughters, Christi Binns (Martin), Vanessa Colebaugh (James), and Dr. Melanie Stoner (John); son-in-law, Dr. J. Patrick Tucker; brothers, Pete, Carlos, Herman, Anthony, Floyd and Arthur Abeyta; grandchildren, Karlis, Blaise, and Casden Binns (Yarden), Madeline and J.P. Tucker, Isabel, Ben, Tate and Jay Colebaugh, and Sara, Sam, Natalie and Rachel Stoner; great-grandson, Cruz Binns; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, followed by Funeral Mass at 11am, officiated by Fr. Tom Velliyedathu. A private burial at Free Home Cemetery in Grant is planned.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fr. Louis Giardino Endowment Fund at St. John Paul II Catholic High School, 7301 Old Madison Pike, Huntsville, AL 35806.
