Jose Manuel Rios, age 80, was born in Eagle Pass, Texas on August 15, 1937 to Manuel and Leonor (Jimenez) Rios. He passed away surrounded by his loving family and friends on April 15, 2018 at his home in Union Gap, Washington.
Jose had 6 siblings: brother Estevan Rios, and sisters Leonor Herrera, Herlinda Huerreca, Maria Louisa Cruz, Gloria Collins, and Isabel Guerra. He married the love of his life Mary Espinoza on March 3, 1984 in Yakima, Washington. He had 6 daughters, Victoria, Connie, Tammie, Deborah, Mary Jo, and Mary Helen.
Jose was a hardworking man who worked as a farm laborer for 35 years at Jack Frost Marley’s Orchards. He was a member of St. Peter Clever Catholic Church in Wapato where he served as a Eucharistic Minister.
He loved going to yard sales, camping, fishing, spending time with family and friends, and watching sports. He was a lifetime fan of the Seattle Seahawks, University of Washington, Wapato Wolfpack basketball and all of the sports that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren played throughout the years.
He was survived by his wife Mary, his daughters, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Estevan, his sisters Leonor, Herlinda and Maria Louisa, brother in-law Juan Herrera, nephew Mario Herrera, and grandson Dale Jose Dakota.
A special thank-you to the Heartlinks Hospice staff and the family who helped take care of Jose in his final months of life.
There will be a memorial service at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home on Monday, April 23, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
