Jose L Cortez (Chito)
Jose Luis Cortez, age 67, went with his Lord and Savior on December 24, 2020. His last days here on earth, he was surrounded by his love ones at his bedside in his home; Shafter, Ca.
Jose was raised by his Tio Jose Presas; along with two other siblings. He was born February 28, 1953 in Mercedes, Tx. Jose was the youngest of his siblings. He married his teen sweetheart Mari on February 15th 1986. His greatest accomplishment was accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in the spring of 1985. He gives Frank Escobedo Sr. credit for introducing him to his Lord Jesus. Other accomplishments include a welder certificate, a commercial driver license and completed an agricultural equipment course. By trade he was an agricultural equipment mechanic.
Jose was old-school and a “jack-of-all-trades”. He took pride in all he worked on from building a play house, installing tile to pouring concrete. He loved the outdoors and was always tinkering. Chito had a passion for target shooting, fishing and camping. He took much pride of his Snap-On Tool collection. However, he was always ready for Vegas and Super Taco!
In addition to his Tio Jose, he was predeceased by eldest brother, Reynaldo Garcia, Snr. of Mercedes, Tx. Surviving in addition to his wife, Mari (Flores), is his son Michael Vasquez of Mercedes, Tx; daughters, Heidi Martinez, Jessica Cortez and Yvette Bustamante; eight grandchildren, Gladys, Jayven, Madden, Carlie, Myla, Kaliah, Laila and Eason, all of Shafter, Ca; one brother Juan S. Cortez of Wasco, Ca; and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, January 7th at 1:00pm. In his home church, La Rosa De Saron 154 W. Tulare Ave, Shafter, Ca.