Jose Antonio Garcia Martinez , of Laredo, Texas passed away on Monday March 04, 2019 after reaching the age of 74 years old. After months of failing health, he died peacefully within his home in Laredo, Texas with his Beloved wife Paola and children (Ernesto and Carolina) by his side.

Jose was born on November 29, 1944 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas to Elisa Gabriela Garcia and Armando Garcia. As a boy he lived mostly on a fame with his grandmother, working odd jobs to support himself and his family. 

As a very young man he learned to work hard and to take on whatever job was available to support himself. He worked in ore mines, steel mills, oil refineries, blacksmith shops and farmed, if necessary. 

He was an early entrepreneur and ran several “small businesses”, run out of everything from a friend’s garage, to a neighbor’s barn or even a make shift roadside stand.

In 1942, he met the love of his life, Iola Harris. They lived together almost inseparable for over 70 years. The early times were difficult financially; Samuel and Iola made many tough choices in those days, including leaving several of their children to be kept for a time in Springville by Samuel’s mother Essie Mae, while they made their way to Buffalo, NY. 

While in Buffalo, Samuel worked many jobs, but primarily as a Crane Operator with Republic Steel. Along side him, Iola also worked many jobs but spent most of their working years together as a Beautician in the