Jose Valencia Uriz Mr.

Jose Valencia Uriz, age 79, of Decatur, GA passed away Sunday, February 16, 2014. He was born September 18, 1934 in Ardaiz in Navarra, Spain to Vicenta Valencia Uriz and Franciso Zuibiri Uriz. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Albert Uriz and Esteban Uriz of Buckeye, Arizona and Jose Antonio Uriz of Pamplona, Spain. He is survived by his wife, Mercedes Uriz of Decatur, GA; daughter, Lenora Teresa Uriz of Snellville, GA; sons, Joe Frank Uriz and Steve Anthony Uriz of Lawrenceville, GA; granddaughter, Hannah Victoria Reid; daughter-in-law, Jessica Dyan Uriz; son-in-law, Derek Keith Spiller; sisters, Maria Angeles Saez, Eladia Uriz, Carmen Mantecon of Pamplona, Spain. Mr. Uriz came to America from Spain in 1958 to work as a sheepherder with his brothers in Arizona, and that is where he met the love of his life, Mercedes Uriz, whom he married in 1963 at Saint Thomas More Church in Decatur, GA. They had three children, Lenora Teresa Uriz, Joe Frank Uriz, and Steve Anthony Uriz. He worked in the restaurant industry for over 35 years and retired in 2000. Mr. Uriz had a great passion for the outdoors with gardening and loved to plant azaleas, magnolia trees, and tomato plants in his yard. Over the course of his lifetime, he had many dogs that meant so much to him (Lassie, Sugar, Keno, Laddie, Caramela, Cookie, Mocha, & Cocoa). A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, February 21, 2014 at Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel. The family will receive friends from 3:00-8:00 pm, Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, 770-277-4550. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wagesandsons.com.