Georgia Rose Martinez

 On a cold, snowy day in December, on the 30th day, Ina Kinzer Conarty and Walter H. Conarty were blessed with a new baby girl named Georgia

Rose Conarty. Her dad, Walt, and her Uncle George went for the doctor, but before they could return, six feet of snow had fallen. Her Aunt Maggie had delivered Georgia Rose in their “soddie” home that had only a dirt floor built by Walt and his brother in law, Milton Kinzer. She was the daughter that had a special place in her dad’s heart. To this day she says that she can still feel his hand under her chin while he combed her hair when she was getting ready to go to school. She can also remember that he would waltz her around the dance floor at the Odd Fellows Hall in Flagler only one time before he had to stop due to a heart condition. She adored both of her parents, but there were so many children that came before her, she always was daddy’s girl. Her siblings were Irma, Opal, Tom, Ed, Orley, Pauline and Baby June. Opal was the babysitter and Georgia’s first words were, “Opal, take her”. Before Walt married Ina Kinzer, he was a professional gambler. Once he met Ina, he told her that being a gambler was not the kind of life he wanted, so later on he became sheriff of Kit Carson County. When Walt informed Ina that they were to move to Colorado from Norton, Kan., she was concerned that there would not be a school for the children. He told her not to worry, he would build a school. He and several others set out to build Second Central School. There were only two students in Georgia’s class, Georgia and Ted Wickham. One of Georgia’s most fond memories of her brother Tom is when he tried to teach her to drive. She was 10 years old. They took off for town with Tom driving, and then she was to bring the car home. Tom taught her how to drive and steer the wheel but forgot one important element; how to stop the vehicle. She took off for home and Tom told her to stop and get gas before going home. She drove right into the filling station and right out since she didn’t know how to stop. Tom nor Georgia never lived that one down. Each child had duties to perform. Georgia definitely was not a farm girl, so she went to town and did housework and ironing for 25 cents a week.
In the summer months, Georgia would work at the Buell Ranch, and whatever wages she made, she turned over to support the family. In 1929, she went to work for a Mrs. Millasack. This lady was particularly picky about how the house was to be cleaned. She had a carpet with fringe on it, and Georgia had to comb each strand to straighten it before she was done for the day. At the end of the summer, with only earning $1.00 a week, she asked for a raise and they let her go. She said, “Mrs. Millasack was particular, but she sure taught me how to clean and organize a house.” During the first half of her ninth grade year, Walt became Sheriff of Kit Carson County, so he moved the family to Burlington. Georgia and her best friend, Vivian Keifer, were inseparable. If Vivian wasn’t at Georgia’s house, Georgia was at Vivian’s house. Georgia graduated from Burlington High School in 1932, and lettered in basketball in 1930, 1931 and 1932. After graduation, she lived with Irma and Dave Rowden, and she went to work at the Flagler Phone Company as an operator for four and a half years. She fondly remembers Irma’s cooking and those homemade cinnamon rolls. Irma would wash and iron her starched sheets and make sure Georgia would get to work on time at the phone company. Dave Rowden was such a positive influence in Georgia’s life after her dad, Walt, died. Georgia also had some not so fond memories of Dave laying a dead mouse at her feet while hanging clothes on the clothes line. Irma sure gave him a spanking over that ordeal! Walt didn’t want city life to influence his children, so he put a pool table in their home so that the boys could play pool without going to the pool hall. Walt didn’t allow any liquor in his home and had strict rules for everyone to follow. He ran a pretty tight ship. Georgia heard later that often times some of the boys would come to the house to see the Conarty girls rather than just play pool. While Walt was Sheriff, he had to call upon his cousin, Pat Conarty, who lived south of Flagler. Pat worked hard at making a moonshine still. Since it was prohibition, Walt and Pat had a run in. Pat threatened to shoot Walt, but somehow it worked out because no one died! Georgia wanted to go to beauty school in Denver, so Tom sold a cow to help provide the money for her schooling. Blanche Carper was to help her get enrolled, however, something went wrong and Georgia never was able to go to beauty school. Not being able to realize her dream, Georgia headed off to the big city of Denver. Georgia became employed by Montgomery Wards, (Monkey Wards). Georgia worked there for almost 10 years while living with Pat and  Pauline McCart. Georgia met and married George Cummings and they had a daughter, Janice, in 1948. They remained married for five years then divorced. After Run Dec. 24 Georgia Conarty Martinez turns 96 the divorce, Georgia needed to take care of her daughter. Realizing that there wasn’t too much future at Wards, she enrolled in Opportunity School. Pat would pick her up from her job and rush her to school every night. He never forgot to bring her a sandwich that Pauline had made for her. While attending school in Denver, Georgia had to leave Janice with her sister, Opal, and her husband, Elmer “Bub” Joy. It was so hard to leave Janice, but she would come to Flagler each weekend, driving her 1952 Flathead Ford. Georgia had learned by this time how to stop an automobile. Gram Conarty lived with the Joys and taught Janice and many others how to make pie crust with those crippled hands. Georgia fondly remembers how Gram Conarty was trying to discipline Ina Lou Murphy Trahern when she was a little girl. Ina Lou bit her sister, Norma Jean Murphy Moore, and during the screaming, Gram decided to teach Ina Lou a lesson by biting her. Ina Lou laughed and said, “Gram, you didn’t have your teeth in.” While attending Opportunity School, Georgia met Zeke Martinez, and in 1962, they were married. They did a lot of traveling together visiting far away destinations such as Israel and Jamaica with her brothers and sisters-in-law. After retiring in 1972, she volunteered for the Department of Social Services. She answered phones, helped distribute food and helped organize rides for those who couldn’t get to their doctors appointments. Georgia and Zeke did this marvelous task for over 20 years. After Zeke died, her daughter, Janice Cummings Walters decided Georgia should come and help her with her skin care clinic. Georgia has worked at Com*plex Skin Fitness Clinic in Lakewood full-time from her 80th birthday until her 94^th birthday. After she suffered many mini-strokes, Georgia had to give up driving at 94 years of age. Georgia still comes in on a regular basis when possible. Jan is married to Bob Walters from New Orleans and has three children, Tara Medina, Tamira Trujillo and Randy Cain. Tamira and Randy live in Colorado and Tara and her family now live in Okinawa. Jan keeps Georgia traveling. She has had the opportunity to go to Sicily for the birth of her first great-granddaughter, Sienna Rose Medina whose father, Marcos Medina, serves proudly in the United States Navy. In February, Jan and Georgia will travel to Okinawa for the birth of their second great-granddaughter. Jan and Bob Walters took Georgia to Ireland to stand on the ground that her family came from, CooteHill County Cavan. She was the only one of the siblings to ever go back to the land of her forefathers. She remembers fondly asking about the Conarty clan while there and having a young man whose eyes were as blue as the sky ask around, “Would you be for knowin how to find the Conarty Clan?” It was a memorable trip. To be able to stand in the church yard where your relatives could only make an X by their name to signify births, deaths and marriages was amazing. Georgia has housed many nieces and nephews in her home in Denver while they would attend various schools to better their education. She is loved by many and we all wish her the happiest birthday.

Please visit the following website to view a special dedication from her daughter Jan: andiesisle.com/ThisBlessingIsForYou.html

Funeral services will be held at the Lookout Mountain Community Church (534 Commons Drive) in Golden, Colorado on Thursday, December 30, 2010.  A luncheon will follow the services at the church.  Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. (same day) at Evergreen Memorial Park in Evergreen, Colorado.