Eugenia Diane Lary Martinez, 81, of Denton, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Saturday, March 11, 2017. She passed away peacefully in her sleep after battling cancer for two years. She was born on December 11, 1935 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Diane later moved to Dallas and grew up in Highland Park. She graduated from Highland Park High School and later Southern Methodist University. She studied classical piano and ballet, and was considered excellent in both arts, but switched majors and received a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics.

She loved music and continued to amaze family and friends by playing classical piano pieces from memory up until the end of her life. She later taught piano lessons in El Paso before the birth of her first child.

Diane also attended U.T. Austin to work on a Master's in Spanish. There she met her husband to be, Juan De Dios Martinez, at a Christian Fellowship group. They got married in 1959 and enjoyed 46 years before Juan passed away in 2005.

In the early years of their marriage they lived a life of ministry, traveling around Texas and New Mexico, and even living in Veracruz, Mexico for a couple years.

Due to this ministry, each of her eight children was born in a different city. Diane and Juan shared the gospel in churches, on the streets and in the jails of Mexico.

Later, while living in Arizona, they started a small church in Nogales, Mexico. Diane lived a life centered on Christ continually praying, meditating scripture, and reading from her Spanish King James Version bible. She relied on Jesus Christ to help her through life's many ups and downs.

Diane is survived by her eight children, Samuel Martinez of Oakland, CA; Tina & Tony Palos of Denton, TX, Stephen and Renee Martinez of Denton, TX, Lydia Martinez of Denton, TX; Juan De Dios Martinez, Jr. of Austin, TX; Jonathan and Cindy Martinez of Corpus Christi, TX; Daniel and Bonnie Martinez of Bastrop, TX and Lucinda Rodrigues of Hawaii. There are also five grandchildren: Juan the 3rd; Javier; Bliss; Micah; and Caleb.

Diane is preceded in death by her husband, Juan De Dios Martinez; her father, Eugene Lary; and her mother Pat Lary. Her mother Pat actually passed away the day after Juan passed away in 2005.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday March 15, 2017 from 6-8 P.M at DeBerry Funeral Directors, 2025 W. University Denton, TX, 76201. Funeral Services will be Thursday March 16, at 10:00 A.M. at Denton Bible Church 2300 E. University Dr. Denton, TX 76209.