Jose Lionel Cortez

Jose Lionel Cortez, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on October 11th,
2021. At the age of 93 after a lengthy battle with Parkinsons’ Disease and Dementia. His health
drastically declined when he was 91 in 2018 and he became wheelchair bound. His wife, who is
currently 86 y.o. has been his primary caregiver and she took excellent care of him in their
home. The family would like to thank Amy Alaniz and Veronica Huerta from the VA center who
provided home health services. The family would also like to thank the many providers that have
helped our father,the last one being Lupita De La Cruz and his bath aide of 3 years, Celeste
He was born on November 6, 1927 in San Benito, Texas. He joined the Army at age 18 near the
end of WW2. He served for one year stateside and was very proud to have served his country.
When he got out of the Army, he started to work in a furniture store in Donna for many years
Then he became a police officer in Donna and later in Alamo and then advanced to Chief of
Police in Alamo. He later started his own business, Cortez Motors, in Donna in 1980. He worked
at his business until 2013, for 33 years. He loved to work and he kept working until he was 85
y.o. He worked hard all of his life and was a jack of all trades. Near the end of his working
career, he only worked as an inspector. He remained physically strong and had a good attitude
towards life and health for many years.
He is preceded in death by his parents; Claudio Cortez and Rosaura Abrego Cortez, his son
Hector Cortez, brothers- Fidel Cortez and Abel Cortez. He is survived by his loving wife, Maria
Cortez; sons, Danny Cortez (Nel) from Sugarland, Ramiro Ruiz (Rosalinda) from Edinburg,
,Jose Lionel Cortez Jr (Pam) from Georgetown and John Cortez (Mary) from
Grapevine;daughters, Rachel Grande (Bryan) from Corpus Christi and Carina Warner (Neil)
from Carrollton; grandchildren Danny, Nikki, Krystal (Luke),Kristopher, Michael, Gabriel, Daniel,
Adrian, Vivian, Olivia, Matthew (Taylor), Felicia Marie, Lauren Elaine, Marcus, Adriana, Nathan,
Jacob, Isaac, Jeremy, Melissa, Isaiah Loyal and Samuel Jay; great- grandchildren Annika,
Reyna and Cameron, and many nephews and nieces including nephews, Fidel Cortez Jr from
San Benito and Fidel Cortez from Alamo.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 14th from 5pm to 9 pm with a rosary at 6 pm. Final
visitation will be Friday, October 15th from 8:30-10:30am. Interment to follow at the Donna
Cemetery at 11 am. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Vaughan Funeral Home
at 1701 E. Bus 83, Donna TX.

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