Family and friends will celebrate the life of Christian "Ray" Martinez, 35, of Brownwood at 4:30 pm Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Victory Life Church in Brownwood with Bishop Aaron Blake Sr. officiating.

Ray went to be with our Lord on February 15, 2016. He was born on February 27, 1980 in Brownwood to Raul Martinez, Jr. and Rosalinda Cantu Perez.

Ray graduated from Brownwood High School in 1998.  He was a member of the Brownwood Lion baseball, football, basketball, and track team. Ray attended and played baseball at Richland College in Dallas and Howard Payne University in Brownwood.  

In his teenage years, Ray\'s love of sports inspired him to become involved in umpiring and referring. He is well known in Brown county and surrounding counties because of his involvement in numerous officiating chapters including the Pecan Valley Football & Basketball Chapters, Heartland Baseball Chapter, and Central Texas Umpires.

Ray\'s memory will be kept alive by his father Raul Martinez, Jr. of Brownwood, mother Rosalinda Cantu Perez of San Antonio, stepfather Juan Perez of Early, sister and best friend Lydia and brother-in-law Nathan Bueno of San Antonio, maternal grandmother, Guadalupe "Wela" Cantu of Villa Union, Coahuila, Mexico, fiancée Joey Patino and her daughters, A\'Leesia, Makayalla, and Brianna of Brownwood, and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Jose "Welo" Cantu; paternal grandparents Raul and Pilar Martinez.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be accepted at the celebration to start a fund to support children in need of sporting good supplies to participate in area sports.