Dad passed peacefully at home surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Paula of thirty-five years. Sons and daughters: Gloria, Lucy, Linda, Frank, Tony, Spencer, Eric, Mary and Ward. Paula's daughters: Jo, Stella, Esther and Nancy. He had numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He moved from Mexico at the age of five and grew up in Texas. He traveled and worked in various places all over the United States until coming to Washington in 1949. He worked at multiple agriculture jobs and logging, often working multiple jobs at the same time. In 1955 he started working at Twin City Foods in Stanwood, staying there until his retirement in 1982. Then he was able to work even harder, raising cattle, growing strawberries, pumpkins, corn, potatoes and herbs. He took pride in his crops, vegetable and flower gardens. One had to look very hard to find a single weed! He was an extremely hard worker who embodied the immigrant experience of success through hard work. His work ethic was a trait he passed on to his children. He had the ability to easily make friends where ever he went. He was always delighted when family and friends came to the farm to visit. He enjoyed family dinners with everyone around the table listening to the chatter and laughter. Through the years Dad and Mom would travel to Mexico, Texas and California to visit family and friends. Family was an important part of life to him. He was an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Cedarhome where he worshipped and enjoyed the fellowship, potlucks and playing the role of one of the kings for the Living Christmas Nativity. He was a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather that was easy to love, well respected and we'll miss so very much. We give heartfelt thanks to Whatcom Hospice, Dr. Coletti and his staff at Bellingham Cardiology. Their cheerful, friendly and positive attitudes as they cared for him made him feel so special. He always stopped at the flowers and smelled the sweet peas at the office sidewalk. His care was always handled as if they were treasured friends, never clinical. We are so grateful for these special people that are compassionate and made themselves available to us any time, day or night. They were so patient guiding us through this difficult path we hadn't traveled in a long time. Thank you! Viewing will be held Thursday, December 12, 2013 from 5:00 pm.m until 8:00 p.m. at Hawthorne Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, December 13, 2013, 11:00 a.m. at Hawthorne Funeral Home with a Reception to follow in the Hawthorne Reception Room. Following the reception a Graveside Service will be held at the Burlington Greenhills Memorial Cemetery, Gardner Rd. in Burlington.