Jose "Joey" Salas

Lance CPL Jose Salas III, born November 29, 1986, passed away October 15, 2007. He proudly served his country as member of the United States Marine Corps and was handpicked to serve as part of the Historic Marine Barrack, 8th & I, Ceremonial Detail known worldwide as the “Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon” stationed in Washington, D.C. At age 9, Joey and his younger brother, Johnny, joined the El Paso Young Marines under the tutelage of their step-father, Arthur Saucedo, a proud Marine himself. He attended Andress High and transferred to Hanks High School where he graduated in 2005. He excelled in art and writing and loved swimming, basketball, and hiking. He was very attentive and respectful of others and absorbed all knowledge presented to him. Just two weeks shy of completing his first semester at EPCC, just as his brother had done five months earlier, he decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He had an aspiration to join a federal law enforcement agency after completing his tour of duty with the Corps and had also considered the field of criminal psychology. Joey was a beautiful, happy child who grew up to be a handsome man with a very loving heart. When not in school, he spent a lot of time with his godparents and was very close to his grandmother. He was loved and admired by all who knew him. He loved his family dearly and was very proud to be a United States Marine. Joey is survived by his loving and devoted parents, Nora and Arthur Saucedo; brother, Johnny Salas; sister, Kayla Salas; grandmother, Maria Orrantia; godparents (uncle and aunt), Lino and Mary Duron; aunt, Espy Arreola; uncles, Joe, Roman, Salvador, Abel, and Pedro Orrantia; closest cousins: Andrew Jaime and Christina Bernaldez and many more family members and friends. Visitation will be held from 12-9 pm with a vigil/rosary to begin at 7pm, Sunday, October 21, 2007 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Funeral Mass will begin at 1:00 pm Monday, October 22, 2007 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with Full U.S. Marine Corps Honors. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast.