Walz-Reid, Martha Jane
Martha Jane Walz-Reid was born on June 25, 1958 in Silver City, New Mexico to Jack and Kathleen Walz.
Jack Walz was a linotype operator and later became manager of the Silver City Daily Press, and Kathleen Walz, R.
N., worked in multiple medical departments at Med Square Clinic and at Hillcrest General Hospital.
Martha passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2016, following several years of chronic illness. She is survived by her husband, Mark Reid, and sons Jeremy and James Reid. She is also survived by her mother, Kathleen (Walz) Cushing, three brothers, Kent Walz, Jerry Walz and Daniel Walz, and one sister, Barbara Johnstad, all of Albuquerque.
"Anybody who ever knew her for more than 10 minutes had their life touched in a positive way," said her son James. Her husband Mark who had been married to her since April 30, 1986, described her as the "greatest lady I ever knew."
Martha received her early education in Silver City where she attended and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, and then attended and graduated from Silver High School. She obtained her R.N. degree from Odessa Community College in 1981. When living in Silver City, Martha earned a reputation as an accomplished equestrian as she would frequently ride her mare, Bronkett, bareback while delivering newspapers in the rural areas near Silver City.
Following her mother into the medical field, Martha excelled. She was employed as a nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque for over 20 years, where she worked on the heart transplant recovery team; worked on the cardiac unit, worked on the short stay unit, and worked in multiple other positions. She served as charge nurse multiple times. Her efforts were recognized by her peers as on several occasions as she was honored as "nurse of the year" and she also was recognized with many other awards in the medical field. Martha enjoyed training other nurses to reach their maximum potentials.
Importantly to Martha, her greatest concern was providing first rate nursing care to patients and providing patients with an opportunity to express their feelings to someone who cared. Many individuals who Martha cared for, and who were previously unknown to family members, have contacted Martha’s family with fond recollections about Martha’s kindness and nursing abilities. However, this type of recognition of Martha’s skill and kindness is nothing new.
"Nearly ten years ago, I had an attorney approach me who I didn’t know that well ask me if I was related to Martha Reid. I told him yes. The next heartfelt words he spoke were to the effect that he wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for Martha’s care following his heart surgery," said Jerry Walz, a longtime Albuquerque lawyer.
Martha retired from active nursing in 2006, but her love of people and her desire to help those in need continued. "If Martha couldn’t help, she was a conduit to find people who could," said her husband Mark. He added that Martha was known to gather and donate clothing to people in need, and that he and Martha through the "Helping Hands" ministry would provide this help. "She liked to assist everyone who needed help" said her son James. "She turned away no one," he added. Martha and Mark, who enjoyed working together, at one time served as volunteers for the Bernalillo County Fire Department. Martha also had been a member of East Gate and Tramway Community Church.
A memorial service will be held on January 21, 2017 from 1-3 pm at East Gate Church at 12120 Copper Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123.
In lieu of flowers or cards, anyone who may want to make any donation should make the donation to the Barrett House or any shelter that takes in and assists battered women and children.