Julia Y. Cortez
Julia Y. Cortez, 79, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, Sunday after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was born Jan. 28, 1926, in La Grulla, Texas to Manuela Solis and Pedro Castillo, and raised by her adoptive parents, Juan N. and Maria Ybarra.
It was in La Grulla that she met her childhood sweetheart, Antonio Cortez, whom she married on June 23, 1946, and proceeded to have eight children. Mom and Dad moved to Othello in 1962, and have remained living there for the past 43 years.
She lived for her family, always enjoyed family gatherings, cooking, music, Sunday barbecues and summer trips to Texas to visit her family. She was adored by many, and loved by all, and for those who loved her, appreciated for her matter-of-fact personality and loving sense of humor. She was devoted to her faith in God, her husband and her family; she loved her roses, the color purple and appreciated all of life's little things.
She is survived by her loving husband, Antonio Cortez, and her seven children: Efrain (Blanca) Cortez of Mission, Texas; Leo (Dalia) Cortez of Moses Lake; Alicia Enriquez of Irrigon, Ore.; Emma (Johnny) Dick of Pasco; Nellie (Joe) Borrego of Kennewick; Marie Esmeralda (Sheldon) Hitchcock of Moses Lake; and Velma (Joe) McKerlie of Othello. She is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren, as well as her brothers Alonzo, Adolfo, Angelo and Alejandro Solis all of La Grulla; Alvaro Solis of Aurora, Ill.; sisters Soila Gonzalez of Mission, Texas; and Cesaria Cuello of Mesa, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Juan and Maria Ybarra, her biological parents, Manuela Solis and Pedro Castillo; Son Rosendo Cortez; brothers, Beltran, Simon and Amador; sisters, Juanita and Severa Solis; great-grandson Michael DeLeon, Jr.
A time for final visitation has been set aside at Stevens Funeral Chapel on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a rosary said at 6 p.m. A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Othello Friday at 11 a.m. with burial to follow at Beth Hampton Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements being made by Stevens Funeral Chapel.