Jose Lerma Jr

Dateline: Edinburg

Jose "Joe" Lerma, Jr., 84, entered eternal rest on Tuesday, December 27, 2018 at Windsor Arbor View Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Edinburg. He was born on Saturday, November 17, 1934 in Linn, Texas to Jose Lerma, Sr. and Catalina Medina. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife; Lydia Alaniz Lerma, son-in-law; Rey Benavidez, and brothers; Alberto Lerma and Humberto Lerma.
Joe is survived by his children; Catalina (Robert) Orozco, Amelia (Kevin) Limerick, Yolanda (Cris) Esquivel, Ana Luisa Benavidez, and Esmeralda (Armando, Jr.) Ponce, 8 - grandchildren, 10 - great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Joe started working at the young age of 6 years as a farmhand doing shores and feeding and riding horses at the ranch. He later went to work as a seasonal worker as a bus driver for migrants. He worked for 15 years as a mechanic with the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District and finally retiring after 24 years with the Texas Department of Agriculture as a meat inspector for the South Texas Region. Joe was very proud of being a Master Mason for Grand Lodge of Texas, Hidalgo County #1036. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading, watching T.V. and talking politics. He greatest joy was spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all those whose lives he touched.
His family received friends on Thursday, December 27, 2018 from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM with a Rosary prayed at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of Peace at Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg. Catholic Mass will be celebrated on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 501 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg. Catholic burial will follow to Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, 1701 East Richardson Road in Edinburg. Funeral services have been entrusted to Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home in Edinburg.