Joe Diaz Jr., 71, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 11, 2023, surrounded by his wife and family.
Joe was born May 22, 1952, in Taylor, to Virginia Gonzales and Joe Diaz Sr. He grew up with five siblings and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and also Taylor Public Schools.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sally Garza of Taylor, this September would have been 53 years celebrated.
From this marriage, Joe and Sally had five children.
In his early years, Joe worked in air conditioning and heating, and spent 25 years working hard in this field. He later worked for Williamson County Facility Maintenance as access control. At Williamson County Facility, he received the Seniors Director’s Certificate of Appreciation for Exemplary Service.
Joe retired from Williamson County in 2018. In everything that he did, he worked extremely hard and was very dependable.
In his spare time, Joe loved to spend time with family and being outdoors. He had a passion from a young age of breeding game fowl and raising those most of his life. You could often find him outside under a tall tree caring for his roosters, hens and chicks with his wife by his side.
Joe also enjoyed fishing at Granger Lake and teaching his children and grandchildren to fish, target shoot, old school manners, virtues of being a good person and how to love a good western. He was a man of great knowledge in many areas.
Joe was a man of great faith and served at Christ Fellowship Church in Taylor as a deacon and youth pastor. He was also a coach of an Austin Soccer Team for several years.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia and Ruben Gonzales and Joe Diaz Sr.; brothers, Danny Diaz Sr., Angel Diaz, and Jesse Diaz. Joe is survived by the love of his life, Sally Diaz; children, Laurie Diaz (Oscar) of Taylor, Rebecca Ancira (Jeff) of Pflugerville, Danny Diaz Jr. of Taylor, Christina Diaz of Austin, and Denise Diaz of Taylor; sisters, Rosemary Ramirez (John) of Thorndale, Ruby Dabney (Paul) of Tennessee, and Debbie Diaz-Buckalew (Dale) of Taylor; 10 grandchildren, Bobby Villanueva Jr. (Amber), Alyssa Hernandez (Juaquin), Christopher Garza, Josephine Pachicano, William Pachicano Jr. (Crystal), Erika Hernandez (Vincent), Noah Pachicano, Isaiah Solorio, Mackenzie Ancira and Mikaela Ancira; and five great grandchildren, Ezekiel Villanueva, Jayla Pachicano, Eris Villanueva, Luxe Pachicano and Jaxon Hernandez.
A memorial service will be held Friday, July 14, at 5 p.m.at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor.
