MARTIN, Liza

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, AZ ~ November 5, 2010 Liza Martin died at 12:57 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, with her family at her side after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was a proud sixth-generation Arizonan. She grew up in Phoenix and moved to Nashville, Tenn. in 1993. She loved all things western and country, from riding horses to playing music. She was a multi-talented and energetic person who rode horses since childhood, and often taught riding in Nashville in addition to her singing career. Her 2002 self-tited CD featured songs in English and Spanish and is a wonderful picture of her musical soul. In the liner notes, she thanks her mother for "sharing the music of Ray Price with me," and also her older sister Denise, who she calls Wilma. "Wilma should have the credit for forming my early musical tastes. From the stereo in her bedroom Phoebe Snow, Valerie Carter, Cat Stevens, Weather Report and others drifted down the hallway to my ears. The early motown sounds and the fund of "mother's finest" and "Fatback" were also in regular rotation. Every singer should have a hip big sister just across the hall." Her voice was soulful, expressive and resontant, and touched all of those lucky enough to hear her. In the Spring of 2010, Liza started working as the Pension/Signatory Administrator at AFM Local 257 in Nashville. She brought her characteristic passion and empathy to work every day at the musicians union, and her joyful attitude made her a pleasure to work with. "Liza's zest for living, sense of humor, and infectious laugh will live on in our memories, but most of all, we all treasure her beautiful sweet and firey spirit, which will be with us always. Her final record was a beautiful version of Rodney Crowell's "Til I Can Gain Control Again" featuring her friends Katherine Styron Marx, Kerry Marx, Reggie Young, Jenny Young, Linda Davis and Dave Pomeroy. Upon hearing Liza's version, Crowell was moved to contract her, and wrote: "Listening to you sing the song I believe wholeheartedly that your spiritual self is larger than life. From now on, every time I sing the song, I will think of you and believe that it is a prayer we share. God speed dear girl, may love travel with you. Thanks for teaching me my song." To those in the music communities of Phoenix and Nashville she was an enormous talent, but an even better friend and warm, wonderful person. She will be deeply missed. Rest in Peace, Liza. You have earned it. Liza is survived by her mother, Mary Wildman of Eagar; sister Denise Avalos; brothers Erich and Raynaldo Martin and Ron Wildman Jr. of Phoenix. She is also survived by an uncle, several aunts and cousins in the Round Valley area. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the American Legion Post 30, 825 E. Main in Springerville.