Jose Francisco Peña Sr.

On November 22, 2024, we lost a beloved member of our family, Jose Francisco Peña Sr., also referred to as 'Chief.' He was a father, father-in-law, grandfather, husband, brother, uncle, and friend. Born into a responsible family, Jose pursued a life filled with hard work and commitment. He began his journey as a farmer, following the footsteps of his father, cultivating vegetables such as corn, grain, jalapeños, watermelon, and cotton. A man of diverse skills and ambitions, he enrolled in a trade school in Kansas, focusing on mechanics, a field where his talent truly shined, leading him to work at Weslaco Motors.

Encountering Ninfa, a beautiful waitress at Bronco restaurant, marked the beginning of a beautiful marital life with their 4 amazing children. Jose initiated his business 'J&M Automotive Services,' fulfilling his mechanical passion while farming. He instilled values of humbleness, integrity, respect, and diligence into his family, demonstrating them through rigorous farming work.

A remarkable moment in Jose’s farming journey was teaching his oldest son, Manuel, to operate a tractor at the tender age of ten, and instilling in his youngest son, Jose Pena, the responsibility of tending and irrigating the crops with him at 2AM. While he didn’t agree with his daughters Monica and Melinda being out there farming, they still enjoyed riding the tractor with their father and jumping on the cotton while it was being put onto the trailers.

Jose was a passionate mechanic and a race car aficionado earning the nickname 'Chief' in the racing community by being the chief of building and fixing the fastest of racing cars. While dating Ninfa, he built his own race car, a 66 impala and alongside him with her foot on the gas pedal they would race on Saturday nights.

With Jose’s outgoing personality he created many connections and great friendships in the mechanic, farming and racing communities. All communities would come together today and agree that he was very skilled in what he did, and was a very giving and respected individual that loved what he did and was proud of following his family traditions. In his retirement, his passion was raising his Beef Master cattle and cultivating his own hay for them, which allowed him to create his hay business as well. He loved what he did everyday and showed us the true definition of family. To this day, his sons continue his legacy and family traditions on his farm.

He was married to Ninfa for over 53 years. The love and respect he garnered throughout his life resonates within the legacy he left behind. Jose is preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Estefana Peña. Leaving behind to honor his legacy is his devoted wife, Ninfa Pena. His four children, Manuel (Aliza) Pena, Jose F. Pena Jr., Melinda (Noe O.), and Monica (Cesar M.) Pena. Grandchildren, Stephanie M. Pena, Allison N. Medelez, Carlos Medelez, Noe Davila, Valerie B. Pena, Bailey and Katelynn Pena, and Marlyssa A., and Manuel Pena Jr. and a great-grandchild, Nikolas Mateo Davila. His life was an inspiration, and he will be missed dearly.

Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.