Martin Cortez Zendejas Obituary (1967 - 2021)

Martin Cortez Zendejas passed away on November 25, 2021. He was a son, brother, father, grandfather, and a friend to many. Martin had a great sense of humor and will be remembered with a big smile on his face. Martin was a hard-working man, who took pride in providing for his family and was always willing to help anyone in need. He was born in Mexicali, B.C., on February 23, 1967, to Jose and Concepcion Zendejas. Martin was one of their six children. Martin and his family moved to the United States and established their home in Niland, California. Martin attended Calipatria High School where he graduated in 1985. In high school Martin was a tri-sport athlete, playing football, baseball, and basketball. Martin was the captain of the football and baseball teams. After graduating from high school, he moved out of the Imperial Valley for work. In 1989, while living in Sacramento, he married his high school sweetheart Elaine Gonzales. Shortly after they returned to the Imperial Valley to start a family. They had two beautiful kids, Martin Zendejas Jr. and Ashley Elaine Zendejas. His kids along with his granddaughter, Payton Elizabeth Zendejas, were the loves of his life. Martin enjoyed traveling to La Yerbabuena, Michoacan where he was the life of the party in the company of many relatives and friends. Martin loved music, dancing, golfing, dove hunting, and riding beach cruisers in San Diego. Martin is preceded in death by his mother, Concepcion Zendejas, his paternal grandparents, Jose Maria "Chema" Zendejas and Maclovia Luna, and maternal grandparents, Salvador Cortez and Celia Luna. He is survived by his two children, Ashley and Martin Jr., granddaughter, Payton, father, Jose Zendejas, brothers, Jose Zendejas Jr., Javier Zendejas, and Guillermo Zendejas, and sisters, Lidia Luna and Concepcion Marquez, close friend, Claudia Garcia, along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Calipatria, California at 12:30 pm followed by a Celebration of Life at the Zendejas residence, 6370 S. International Rd., Calipatria, California. Martin will be put to rest alongside his mother on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at Riverview Cemetery in Brawley, California at 10:00 am.