Jose Martinez Zamarripa

Jose Zamaripa was born on February 1, 1926 to Ladislado and Natividad Zamarripa of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. He departed into a heavenly rest in the early morning of April 22, 2018, from natural causes. He worked as a farm laborer all his youth and adult life. He was a very hardworking man who would do any job to support his family. He loved his family dearly. Jose was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was a group leader for Sociadad Guadalupana. He was also the president of the Equal Rights Congress. He loved the community he lived in for over 56 years.

Jose is survived by his wife of 37 years, Yolanda “Martha” Zamarripa of Merced, Ca.; his children, Frank (Mary) Zamarripa, Andy (Randi) Zamarripa, Antonia (Scott) Peel, Eloisa (Joe) Balleza, Yolanda (Rick) Garcia, Carmen (Jimmy) Sanchez, Jesse (Virginia) Zamarripa, Eva Zamarripa, Irene (Eloy) Rico, Juan Zamarripa, and Veronica Zamarripa; his stepchildren, Gus Carrasco, Maria Salcedo, Santana "Joe" Carrasco, Noe Carrasco, Patty Carrasco, and Salvador Carrasco; his brothers, Epifanio, Miguel, Nicolas and Cristobal Zamarripa; his sisters, Socorro, Gregoria, Estefana, Maria, Belem and Florentina Zamarripa.

In our fathers lifetime he was blessed to witness 5 generations of grandchildren be born. He had 25 grandchildren, 52 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren and numerous step grand and great grandchildren whom he cherished. They were all precious in his sight. He never favored one over the other. He loved then all.

Our father is preceded in death in by our beloved mother and his first wife of 28 years, Celia Zamarripa; his youngest son, Juan “Johnny” Zamarripa; his grandson, Ruben Alacorn; his great grandson, Robert (Bobby) de la Rosa Jr. and his friend Antonio Cavazos.

Our father was a well known and loved man in the Merced Community. He was a very loving and caring individual. He would always light up a room. He loved his family, his friends and especially his grandchildren. His hobbies were playing his accordion and you could usually find him singing and dancing. He loved to dance. His best friends were his doggies. He will truly be missed and all the delicious tamales that he made. He was the best tamale maker and he would sell out on all the holidays, weekends and any other given time there was a function. Though we miss our father, he leaves behind such a rich heritage and legacy of who he was. We honor this great man and all his love and memories will live on.

All services are as followed: on Thursday, May 3, 2018 a visitation will be held at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home located at 1490 B Street, Merced, Ca. from 3:00-8:00 pm. On Friday May 4, 2018, a Catholic Mass and funeral service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 519 W. 12th Street, Merced, Ca. at 10:00 am. Following the mass there will be a graveside service at Calvary Cemetery located at 260 W. Childs Ave, Merced, Ca.. All funeral arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.