Martha Monedero Sawtelle joined the celestial choir on June 13, 2026, at age 96. She was born April 10, 1930, to Aurelia Irigoyen Monedero and Gonzalo Monedero, Sr. in El Paso, Texas.

Martha was inspiring, dedicated, humorous, and adventurous. She enjoyed family, friends, cooking, playing the piano, dancing, and regaling others with stories. As an elementary school music teacher in El Paso, she loved and was brilliant at orchestrating and directing children’s choral and theatrical productions. Her favorite activities were reading, attending music performances, and traveling throughout the American Southwest. Graduating from El Paso High School in 1948, she went on to study music and piano, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from Texas Western College, now the University of Texas at El Paso, in 1952. Shortly after, she began a distinguished career with the El Paso Independent School District, serving for 37 years.

She was a devoted patron of the arts and deeply involved in the cultural and arts scene of El Paso. She was a longtime member and past president of the MacDowell Club (a branch of the El Paso Woman’s Club), as well as an active member of The Boton Rojo, the El Paso Woman’s Club, the Architect Wives Club of El Paso, the El Paso Symphony Guild, the El Paso Opera Guild, the El Paso Community Concerts, Aggie Moms, and The El Paso Museum Of Art. As an accomplished pianist and piano teacher for more than 40 years, she also established the University of Texas at El Paso Sawtelle Piano Fund.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gonzalo Sr. and Aurelia Monedero, her brother and sister in law, Gonzalo Jr. and Rose Monedero, her brother Carlos Monedero, and her nephew Martin Monedero. She is survived by her son, Gilbert “Gib” Sawtelle and wife Nancy of College Station, her son James Sawtelle of Tempe, Arizona, her son David Sawtelle and wife Jane of Bonita Springs, Florida, granddaughter Ashley Sawtelle Kietzman and husband Joey of Arvada, Colorado, granddaughter Erin Colby and husband Paul of Denton, Texas, grandson Gilbert Sawtelle and wife Meagan of Houston, Texas, and great grandchildren Lucy and Sonny Kietzman, Ker’rin Colby, and Daisy and Rowan Sawtelle. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews from the Monedero, Guardian, Duncan, Sawtelle, and Hochhauser families.

A very special thanks to all the caregivers who made her last years comfortable, especially the staff of the Manor, Avir, Traditions Hospice and St. Joseph Health Care, as well as Nancy Crouch.

A memorial service is being planned for July 22, 2026 at 3pm at the Chapel in the St. Joseph complex on Joseph Drive in Bryan. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; 335 S. Kirkwood Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63122-6117; or the charity of your choice.