Official Obituary of Carmen “Orlene” (Hilliard) Martin August 12, 1952 ~ June 3, 2024 (age 71)

Carmen “Orlene” Martin was born August 12, 1952 in Hobbs, New Mexico to the home of Martaret Wanda (Degman) and James Oral Hilliard, and died early on the morning of June 2, 2024 in Amarillo, Texas at the age of 71 years, 9 months and 22 days.

Orlene attended school in Portales until 1971, when her family moved to the Amarillo area.  Her family owned Parkway Grocery, a local food market, and Orlene grew up working there with her family.  She was a 1970 graduate of Canyon High School in Canyon, Texas.  While living in Amarillo, she worked as a day care worker at Amarillo College, and later at Iowa Beef in the meat grinding and packaging department.  In 1982, she was married to Andy Martin, and they made their home in Portales.  While living in Portales, she worked as a cashier at Safeway and also at Van Winkles Grocery Store.  In addition, she often babysat.  She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Portales.

Orlene was preceded in death by her husband, Andy, in 2000.  Not long after that, she became very ill, and moved back to Amarillo to live with family.  Once she recovered, she and her father would go dancing twice a week.  She also enjoyed bowling.

Orlene, as she is known to virtually everyone, is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Lewis Littlejohn of Amarillo; nieces Jan Littlejohn, Trista Hilliard of Albuquerque and Marissa Hilliard of Amarillo; nephews, Mike and Kat Littlejohn of Amarillo and Brandon and Andrea Littlejohn of Wichita, Kansas; and great nieces and nephews, Matthew and Lauren Hulen and Aaliyah and Nate Littlejohn.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Edward Lee Hilliard and James Andy Hilliard.

No services are planned at this time.