Laura Janson

Laura Janson passed away on October 28, 2018. Laura grew up in the 50’s and 60’s in a Los Angeles, CA suburb. She was a Renaissance woman. She moved to Santa Barbara and attended Santa Barbara City College. She met Leo Martinez in 1978, working with him in his stucco business, putting plaster on numerous Santa Barbara and Montecito homes. She was the first woman in this trade in Santa Barbara, frowned upon by local contractors and homeowners because she might get hurt, but persisted performing stucco work for 15 years. While in Santa Barbara, she developed cancer but with treatment, it went into remission. She followed Martinez to New Mexico and worked as his bookkeeper at Chileo’s restaurant, Martinez’s stucco business, and rental properties. Laura had a love for animals. In 2000, she served as president of the Lincoln County Humane Society. At age 50, she returned to college obtaining her BA in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. She completed all work for her Master’s degree in Public History except for a thesis at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, slowing down due to cancer’s return. Laura volunteered at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum as well as the Tularosa Basin Historical Museum. Laura was also an award winning photographer of animals, flowers, sunsets and jewelry. She lived on the Martinez ranch with her animals, leaving 4 horses and 4 dogs.