Richard Davie Martinez

Nov. 5, 1980 – April 18, 2016

Richard Davie Martinez was born in Lovell on Nov. 5, 1980, to Barbara (Miller) Mincey and Richard D. Martinez Sr.He grew up in various states and attended school in California, Georgia, Texas and Wyoming. He met his wife, LeeAnn (First Smoke) Martinez, in 2007 while he was residing in Great Falls, Mont. They moved to Fort Belknap, where Richard decided he would better his life and attend college to obtain a degree. He graduated from college in 2014 with a welding degree.[caption id="attachment_11191" align="alignright" width="223"] Richard Davie Martinez[/caption]During this time he picked up a bow at a yard sale and thought he would try his hand at archery. He would stay outside for hours shooting that bow. Once he found out how good he was with it, he decided to try compound bows. He was passionate about them and researched many things on how to get them to shoot right, what were the best accessories to use and even the history of archery.His wife bought him a Hoyt Spyder Turbo and he was so excited about it. He loved that bow and said that he would never sell it because it was his first “good” bow and because it came from her. He used this bow to hunt many times and used it to perfect his aim and distance shooting. Anyone who came across him, he brought up bow hunting. As soon as someone would talk with him about it, his eyes would light up and he would be so proud to tell others what he knew and learned. He loved to hunt and was always looking for someone to hunt with him because once he knew what it felt like out there hunting, there was no place else he would rather be.Richard worked most of his life as a carpenter in various jobs and did everything he could to support his family, including odd jobs and tattooing. His main hobby was archery, but he also tattooed, made things out of paracord and enjoyed working on bows. He could do anything he put his mind to. Once he got it in his head, he would practice and research until he achieved whatever it was he wanted to do. He had a goal to become a champion archer and shoot for Hoyt.On April 18, 2016, Richard went to his favorite hunting spot, never to return. He died from hypothermia.Richard is survived by his parents Richard D. Martinez Sr. (Vicky) of Lovell and Barbara Mincey of Cowley; his wife, LeeAnn (First Smoke) Martinez of Billings; daughters Azalia Martinez of Lovell and Thalia Martinez of Billings; sons Isaac Martinez and Ezekiel Martinez, both of Billings; sisters Tanja Sloan of Billings and Rachelle Martinez of Cowley; brother Brett Newman of Rock Springs; nephews Kyler Martinez of Cowley and Christian Martinez of Cowley; and numerous aunts and uncles and cousins, all from various states.Richard was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Margaret Wilson and George Wilson of Cowley.Memorial services were held Saturday, April 23, at Enemy Killer Center in Lodge Pole, Mont.