Jose was reared and educated in Cuba, where he graduated from the Matanzas Institute. He earned a college degree in law enforcement. He worked as a police officer in Matanzas and later Maxima Gomez, where he met his future wife, Nydia Casilda Moral. They were married on April 24, 1955 at the San Francisco Javier Catholic Church in Maxima Gomez.
On April 18, 1959, Jose moved to Long Island, New York. On February 24, 1962, his family joined him. The family moved to Miami in 1968 to be closer to Jose’s mother. He started working for Seaboard Coastline Railroad and retired an inspector supervisor in May 1989.
Jose loved birds and when he was growing up he taught an owl, who he had raised from an owlet, to come to him. Jose also loved fishing, reading, historical events, western lore and John Wayne movies. In 1997, Jose and Nydia moved to Colorado in 1997 to live closer to his daughter, Maggie and her family.
Above all was his love for his family.
Jose is survived by his wife, Nydia of Greeley; daughters, Maggie Demers of Johnstown and Raquel McFee (Robert) Amherst, New Hampshire; four grandchildren, Buxton Demers, Jr. of Johnstown, Dakota Marie Russell (Noah) of Colorado Springs and Ethan McFee and Madeline McFee both of Amherst, New Hampshire and one great-granddaughter, Natalia Alexis of Colorado Springs.
Jose was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Buxton “Buck” Demers, Sr. and a sister, Zenaida Rivera.
Visitation will be from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, January 27, 2019 at Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in care of Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634.
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