Lorie Marie Martinez Mora Chavez

Dec. 6, 1955 – Sept. 7, 2024

Lorie Marie Martinez Mora Chavez, 68, died Sept. 7, 2024, with her family by her side in Phoenix AZ. She was born on Dec. 6, 1955 in Ogden, UT to Larry and Mary Valdez Martinez. Lorie spent her life in Ogden, UT until 2010, when she moved to AZ to help care for her mother and to be closer to her grandchildren. After her mom died in 2015, Lorie became the matriarch figure of the family and took it upon herself to keep everyone together. Then, when her sister Susie passed away in 2021, she happily filled in as grandma for Susie’s grandchildren and adopted them as her own.

Lorie retired from Utah Transit Authority in 2009 after 25+ years of service as a bus driver. She could make friends with anyone and enjoyed constantly meeting new people all along her routes.

Lorie married Ernie “Boogie” Mora in 1974 and they were together until his death in 1998. In 2008, she married Ronnie Chavez and they spent her final 16 years together.

Lorie dedicated her life to caring for those around her, especially her children and grandchildren. She lived with passion for her loved ones and loved her children and grandchildren more than words can describe. She would do everything she could to spoil her grandchildren as much as possible. In addition to family, Lorie loved spending time at the casino playing bingo or playing in her weekly poker tournament with her husband and friends.

Lorie was a fighter through and through. She fought her multiple cancer diagnoses with as much ferocity as any prior altercation she had faced. After being told she only had weeks to live, Lorie accepted her prognosis and made the decision, with support of family, to spend her final days at home surrounded by love.

She is survived by her husband Ronnie Chavez and daughter Samantha Mora of Maricopa, AZ, son Larry (Heidi) Martinez of Phoenix, AZ, grandchildren Taylor (Grant) Martinez of Los Angeles, CA, Alex (Kyle) Martinez and Deon Martinez of Phoenix, AZ, and stepchildren Ryan (Tisha) Chavez of Ogden, UT, Kelli Chavez of Kuai, HI, and Ray Chavez of Oahu, HI. As well as her brother Joe (Joann) Martinez of Roy, UT, sister Helen (Arthur) Lopez of Roy, UT, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who she loved dearly.

A mass will be held in Ogden, UT at St. Joseph Catholic Church (514 24th St.) on October 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM followed by a burial of her ashes at Washington Heights Cemetery (4500 Washington Blvd.). There will also be a celebration of life held at The Monarch (455 25th St.) from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM.