Maria Teresa Martinez Knight passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025. Affectionately known as Teri, she was a devoted mother and wife who loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her interests included antiquing, dancing, taking care of her plants, as well as cooking for family and friends. She enjoyed sharing meals with her kids and loved it when she was gifted freshly grown lemons, empanadas, and sweets. As for her personality, she was kind, giving, and had a great sense of humor.

Teri was born December 28, 1936, in McAllen, Texas to parents Crisoforo Victor Martinez and Lidia Manzanarez Martinez to a large family of siblings: Crisoforo Victor Martinez, Jr., Dionel Simon Martinez, Jesus Martinez, Dolores Martinez Garza, Ester Martinez Moroles, Elia Martinez, and Guadalupe Martinez who preceded her in death. She attended McAllen High School.

Teri married her first husband, David Olivares Sr. (June 23, 2023), and they had two wonderful children, David Olivares Jr. and Anna Dolores Rivera, both of whom survive her. The family moved to Dixon, Illinois where Teri worked as an LVN at Dixon State School. In 1971, she and her family moved to Edinburg, Texas, where she became a visiting nurse for Head Start in the Rio Grande Valley. She was the pitcher in a women’s intramural softball league.

She remarried James Arlie Knight on March 8, 1985, and together they later moved to Texarkana, Texas. Jim passed away in 1995, but she continued to live and work there until she retired at her last job at MHMR in 2011. In September 2024, she moved to Friendswood, Texas where she spent the rest of her life with her immediate family.

Other surviving members of her family include grandchildren:

Lori De La Cruz, Daniel Rivera, Ariel Rivera, and Mariah Flynn. Great-grandchildren: Lyza Garza, Alejandra Gamez, Layla De La Cruz, Liam Rivera, and Marcus Flynn. Great-great grandchildren: Noah Munoz and Lexi Rosas.

Additional immediate family members including nieces and nephews:

Children of Crisoforo V. Martinez, Jr. (wife, Lupita): Jesus Martinez, Perla Martinez,
Dora Martinez, Dionel Martinez. Children of Dionel Martinez (wife, Dominga): Danny Martinez, Cynthia Valenzuela, Diana Avila, Delma Martinez. Children of Jesus Chuy Martinez (wife, Gloria): Oscar Martinez, Sandra Martinez, Belinda Martinez. Children of Guadalupe Martinez (wife, Elida): Guadalupe Martinez, Marisela Martinez, Rosy Martinez, Lenny Martinez. Children of Ester Moroles (husband, Saul): Jaime Moroles, Judy Gutierrez, Javier Moroles, Miriam de Anda. Children of Dolores Garza (husband, Higinio): Homer Garza, Arnoldo Garza, Velma Garza Children of Elia Martinez DelaCruz (husband, Pedro): Norma Martinez, Nora Rodriguez, Sylvia Sandoval