OBITUARY
Jose Sanchez Sr. went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 23, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
Jose was born on April 15, 1940 to Carmen Sanchez Gonzalez and Inocente Cardona in Remolino, Coahuila, Mexico.
Dad always spoke of an adventurous upbringing. Living a very modest life as a child, he had to leave school at an early age to help support his family.
Friends would often say that it was common to see him around the countryside with a slingshot, hunting small game to help feed his family. At the age of 7 he was contracted to be a sheep herder. At age 10, a family member asked him to come work on a Mexican Hacienda (La Hacienda del Caballo).
Seeing it through Dad’s eyes, he was so excited to have his first real job. He was in charge of the remuda. The Hacienda had 60 horses and 12 Vaqueros. Each Vaquero was provided with 4 horses. Dad’s job was to feed and water the horses. He was to begin each morning at 4 a.m. catching and saddling a horse for each vaquero.
At the age of 13, Jose had the itch to cross the border with three older gentlemen. He landed in Sterling County and was provided a job with the late Mr. Bill Reed. Joe always spoke volumes about Mr. Reed and Family. His fondest memories were when Mr. Reed would show acts of kindness with special treats and clothing for him as he was a young child surrounded by older men.
From there Dad “illegally explored” much of the U.S., working in all parts of Texas, Colorado, Utah and spending many years in California.
This is where Dad met Vivian Anaya. Seeing Dad from her eyes, this is how the story goes.
Mom was working on a farm in Yuba City, California, and Dad was working alongside her, operating a tractor.
According to Mom, Dad was arm wrestling for money during their lunch hour. Each day, no one was able to take his title.
They soon fell in love. They were married on July 18, 1969. From this marriage they had two children – Vivian (Viv) and Jose Jr. (Joe), and Joe also raised two daughters from Vivian’s first marriage – Diana and Catherine Marin. Additionally, Jose was previously married for a short period of time. From this union they had one child named Maria Guadalupe Sanchez Anguiano.
Jose worked the rest of his life on a ranch or oilfield. He was blessed with having the ability to teach and have patience. He taught his children to be honest, hardworking and diligent in everything they did. When working, there was never and idle moment. He taught them to never to borrow anything because something always goes wrong, and to always take care of your family and be respectful to others.
He taught his children not to waste their energy in nonsense, people of nonsense, and those who did not work hard.
Often, he would have lengthy dialogue with people who had good substance in what they had to say, but quickly would shorten the conversation when they just began to talk.
Jose gauged people on how close they were to agriculture. His humor and quick wit were with him till the end. He was an outstanding teacher of perseverance, discernment, patience and hard work.
Later in life, Joe was most content caring for his small herd of goats and helping his son. He loved being in the country mending fences, trimming mesquite or cleaning troughs until he couldn’t do it anymore.
Mom passed in January of 2024 and Dad lost his partner and love. Shortly thereafter, Dad was diagnosed with a slow form of Alzheimer’s and Myelodysplastic Syndrome. He began chemotherapy at Shannon’s Cancer Center. He was cared for at the highest level. The nurses would all wave and smile at the little, short man in cowboy hat that shuffled down the aisle.
Jose is survived by his three children: Maria Guadalupe Sanchez Anguiano, Vivian Mata (Efram Mata), Joe Sanchez Jr (Jodi Sanchez); 17 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and sisters: Victoria Torres, Silvia Cardona, Isabela (Edumundo) Lopez, Ana Cardona and Norma (Felipe) Gomez.
Jose was preceded in death by his father, Inocente Cardona and mother Carmen Sanchez Gonzalez; daughter, Catherine Marin; siblings, Reynaldo Sanchez, Lupe (Rosa) Sanchez, Epigmenio (Herlinda) Sanchez, Hilaria Ordaz and Jose Inocente Cardona.
We would like to thank Dr. Cheruku and outstanding staff as they cared for my Dad at the highest level. Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at Shannon Hospital along with Concho Hearts Hospice.
Celebration of Dad’s life will be Monday October 27th in the Eldorado Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church at 10am. Interment will follow thereafter.
Romans 5:3-4
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance: perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
— From Johnson’s Funeral Home
