Inez Lydia Vasquez

Inez Lydia Vasquez of Wapato passed away gracefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, December 31, 2010. She was born to Salvador and Isabel Villegas on February 8th, 1926, in Campana, New Mexico. Inez had recently resided in both Toppenish and Yakima, but she always considered Wapato as being her home. In 1941 our mother traveled with her family, which included her two brothers, aunt and uncle, from Campana, New Mexico to Powell and then Worland Wyoming. It was in Wyoming, that she and her brothers received their education. The Villegas family then moved from Wyoming to Toppenish, WA, where her aunt and her family would live. Our mother and her family would eventually settle in the community of Wapato, WA in 1942. Her uncle Frank and his family would remain and settle in and around the community of Powell, Wyoming.

In 1944, she married the love of her life Tony R. Vasquez and they began their family having four children, Tony Jr, Lydia, Frank and Robert. Although most of her life would be regarded as a homemaker, she worked at a number of labor intensive jobs along with her husband and parents, mostly around and near the communities of Wapato and Toppenish. In 1960, our father died unexpectedly leaving our mother to wear the hats of both mom and dad, which she embraced with conviction and determination.

Having only a limited education, mom, during this very difficult time and situation, made arrangements for lines of credit with local merchants, established housing for her and her children and over the years, earned the respect and admiration of the community she adored. All of her children went through the Wapato public school system and she strongly encouraged them to learn and retain that education that she felt she did not have the opportunity to receive herself. She was a fiercely devoted and caring mother to her children, never failing to provide for their well being. She could be a strict no-nonsense parent, and at the same time, a loving, caring and affectionate mother, who would shower her children with love and devotion.

Mom was a wonderful cook and could make sensation and mouthwatering meals out of virtually anything. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She was a devoted Seattle Seahawks fan, and loved to watch cowboy movies and her favorite day time soap operas. Mom enjoyed watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in sporting events. When her health no longer allowed her to be there in person to cheer on her grandchildren, she would eagerly wait to her of their participation. Mom had a great passion for many things in her life, but she took enormous pride in describing her own grandmother, our great grandmother, and matriarch of the Villegas family. She would often say, "My grandmother, Beatrice Godoy, was half Spaniard and half Aztec, she had blond hair and blue eyes and was the head of the Villegas family, and she loved her family very much." Above all, mom loved the fact, that she was a servant and daughter of GOD ALMIGHTY, and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She is preceded in death by her parents Salvador and Isabel Villegas. Her husband Tony, son Tony Jr, her brothers Salvador and Roy Villegas and a granddaughter, Lydia Isabel Vasquez. Inez is survived by one daughter and two sons and their families. Lydia (Felix) DeLeon of Toppenish, Frank (JoAnna) Vasquez of Yakima, Robert (Annie) Vasquez of Yakima. She also considered herself to be blessed by having who she recognized and considered, as two additional sons in, Jessie Villegas of Yakima, and Manuel "Manny" Torrez of Zillah.

She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Luis DeLeon, Theresa Koonce, Annette Jester, Angela Cervantes, Alvina Salinas, Anthony Vasquez, Robert "Bobby" Vasquez, Felix "Chano" Deleon, Nathan Vasquez, Gina Boyd, Francine Vasquez, Franklin Vasquez and Delia Vasquez, as well as 24 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. And numerous nephews and nieces and relatives on both sides of the Villegas and Vasquez families.

Visitation will be 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011, with a Vigil Service to follow at 6:00 p.m. at Merritt Funeral Home in Wapato. The Funeral Service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday Jan. 6, 2011 at Merritt Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in Toppenish. Merritt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.