Jose Melendez

Services are scheduled at 9:30 A.M. Tuesday, November 15, at Our Lady of Grace Church for Jose H. Melendez of Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Melendez, 82, died Thursday, November 10, 2005 at his home. Fr. Richard Lifrak SS. CC. will officiate at the services with burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Anthony Mariscal, Jaime Mariscal, Daniel Mariscal, Joe Vince Ruiz, Erik McCormick, and Gabriel Mariscal. Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary Monday beginning at 10:00 A.M. A rosary will be at Our Lady of Grace Monday beginning at 6:30 P.M. Mr. Melendez was born February 23, 1923 in Sweetwater, Texas; the son of Juan Melendez and Rafaela Hinojos Melendez. In 1946 he was married to Irene Garcia in Texas. He came to Artesia in 1948 from Lubbock, Texas. He served in the United States Army. He retired in 1985 from Navajo Refinery after 36 years of service. He worked as a custodian and was also a member of Our Lady of Grace. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one sister. Survivors include his wife Irene Melendez of family home; daughters Elia Mariscal and husband Joe of Artesia, N.M., Sylvia Ruiz and husband Joe of Artesia, and Susan Aguilera and husband Jorge of Pearland, Texas; son Richard Melendez of Artesia; brother Jesus Melendez of Phoenix, Arizona; sisters Amelia Lyles and Rosa Barriga both of Phoenix; eight grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.