Jose M. Vela Jr.

Jose M. Vela, Jr. (Joe) went to our Lord on October 24, 2025 after years of suffering from injuries to his body caused by chemical exposure during his military tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968–1969. He was born on February 17, 1948, in Laredo, Texas. His parents were Jose (Pepe) M. Vela and Emory H. Gonzales from Hebbronville, Texas, both of whom are now deceased.

He was married for 58 years to his soulmate, Mary Catherine McDonnell (Cathie), from Washington, D.C. He was the father of three children: Jon M. Vela (Valarie), Christine M. Graham (Loren), and Daniel R. Vela.

He was the grandfather of Matthew B. Vela (Nori), Ashley N. Vela, Katie M. Graham, and Hayden R. Graham, and the great-grandfather of two great-granddaughters.

Joe, one of five children, is preceded in death by Sylvia A. Gutierrez and Velma E. Escamilla and survived by Diana A. Vela and Roberto Vela. As well as many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Joe spent four years in the Army in the Army Security Agency, including one year in Vietnam. He served ten years in Civil Service with the Department of HUD/FHA and the Department of the Interior as a Real Estate Specialist and Appraiser. For 22 years, he owned an appraisal business in South Texas. He held a Texas General Real Estate Appraisal/Residential Certification, was a Senior Member of the ASA, co-founder and member of the San Antonio ASA Chapter, and held a Texas Real Estate Broker license. He was an approved VA, FHA, and Texas TxDOT fee appraiser.

He was appointed by the Texas Real Estate Commission to serve on the first Texas Real Estate Board’s Appraisal Licensing and Certification Committee.

Other positions he held included four years with the Texas TxDOT Laredo District as Review Appraiser IV with the ROW Section. He also served six years in various county positions as CDBG Director, Manpower Director, Tax Appraiser, and Tax Sales Analyst.

He graduated from SAC with an Associate Degree and from TAMUK with a Bachelor’s Degree.