Martin Larioz

The end of the trail has come to Martin Larioz, born Nov. 11, 1932, in San Antonio, Texas.

He joined hands with his creator on Jan. 25, 2009, at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Spokane. His new spiritual journey began Jan. 25, 2009, the most beautiful Sunday morning of January, the day our creator chose to rest.

Martin was very proud to be a member of the Pasqua Yaqui Indian Tribe of Tucson, Ariz. He was respected and admired by all for his active military service to his country from Feb. 2, 1950, until 1954. During this time he served in Korea, where he was captured on Aug. 15, 1950, and held as a prisoner of war, surviving a North Korean five-man firing squad, a 400-mile death march and the Suchon Train Tunnel Massacre.  He managed to escape after eight months in captivity and spent seven months in recovery at Fort Sam Houston Army Hospital. After his service in Korea, Martin went on with distinguished military service in Japan and Germany.

After active military service, Martin dedicated his life and career to serving military veterans as a National Service Officer for POW’s and veterans. He retired in 1994 from Washington State Employment Security after losing his eye sight. He still continued to serve his fellow veterans on a volunteer basis whenever he could.

One of Martin’s last achievements was to modify a Moses Lake city ordinance to allow a “comfort dog” for persons with disabilities.

Martin is survived by his wife of 20 years, Mary Lou, his son Frankie Larioz of Moses Lake; stepchildren Mando and wife Lori Lopez, Victoria and husband Mark Garcia, and from a previous marriage, daughters Charlene Larioz and Yvonne Moore and a son, Jeff Larioz; sisters Mary Martinez and husband David of Avondale, Ariz., and Nickie Lopez of Cowiche, Wash. Martin was blessed with numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Seferino and Paula Guciardo, his parents Evaristo Larioz and Francisca Trevino, a sister Nora Laijas, a granddaughter Amber Palacios and a son from a previous marriage, Larry Larioz. Also, his “comfort dog” Scooter.

Martin enjoyed attending Native American pow wows, camping, Indian Fry Bread, his dogs, fishing and story telling.

A few people knew Martin’s native name, Walking Eagle, was given to him by his godfather, Morris Madison, when he was an infant. He asked his godfather many times as he grew up why he was given this name. Each time his godfather said, “I will tell you when you are old enough to understand.” Godfather Morris was on his deathbed when Martin begged for an explanation of his name. Finally, after years of waiting, he knew the answer. “I took one look at you and knew that you were too full of #*!# to ever fly, so I named you Walking Eagle.”

Memorial mass for Martin will be held at Our Lady of Fatima by Father Brooks F. Beaulaurier in Moses Lake on Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by full military honors. A reception will follow at Heron Creek Apartments Cabanna, 222 E. Ninth Ave., Moses Lake.