Mr. George Martinez Neves

George was born on January 6, 1932, to Joe and Angelina Neves in Fresno, CA. He passed away on Friday, January 23, 2015, in Fresno, CA, after a brief illness. Born during the Great Depression, George developed a strong work ethic, which he used on his family farm in an area that would someday become part of Fresno State. Learning about animals, crops, and machinery would define his life. He was naturally gifted in practical mathematics, yet school was not for him. He desired to join the military, and like so many other young boys, tried to enlist in World War II, but was turned away. Soon, the Korean Conflict was here, and this time he was able to enlist as an infantryman in the United States Army. Newly married, he was soon fighting overseas. After tours on the front lines, he was advanced to Drill Instructor where he received recognition for outstanding performance of duty. He left the Army in late 1953, only to return to active duty in July of 1954. As a member of the 16th Recon Company, he returned again to Korea for front line duty. He left the Army in 1956, and returned to Fresno. He picked up where he left off, working as a farm hand for various ranches in the San Joaquin Valley. Here, he learned the art of welding, and soon became a full time welder. George would meet the woman he would spend the rest of his life with, Irene Zarasua. They moved from Fresno to Bakersfield, and then in the early 1960's, would return to Fresno to raise their family. He continued to hone his craft, and was hired by Valley Foundry and Machine Works in May of 1966, where he worked as a machinist and welder until the mid 1980's. He became adept at building industrial stainless steel wine tanks, the large kind that you can see driving up and down Freeway 99 throughout the Valley. His work took him as far as Chile in 1981, where he spent the spring and summer building equipment. After the closing of Valley, he worked as an independent contractor for a while, traveling to and from Los Angeles and other parts of the state. He tried his hand at his own welding business, but soon became the foreman of Promac Process Machinery and Supplies. During all this, he worked on his farm, and leased more land to raise cotton and alfalfa. He retired in the mid 1990's, settling down to being a full time grandfather and working around his small farm outside Fowler, CA. George enjoyed his family, doting on his grandchildren. He was an adept horse rider, winning competitions at age 60. He loved his cowboy and war movies. He loved working on anything with a motor in it. As his health would allow, he would work outside as much as possible. George was preceded in death by his daughter Angelique; and all his immediate family, save for his youngest sister. George is survived by his sister, Irene Fierro of Las Vegas, NV; his wife, Irene Neves of Fresno; his daughter, Marla Flores of Fresno; his sons, Leonard Neves of Hemet, CA, and George Neves and his wife Lilia of Clovis, CA; and his grandchildren, Courtney Hutton of Fresno, and Katherine Harrison, and Oliver Neves all of Clovis, CA. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Sunday, February 1, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel on Monday, February 2, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Belmont Memorial Park.