Joe Tsosie

EULOGY OF JOE HUDSON TSOSIE JR. "Celebration of Life" Good morning and thank you all for being here today to honor "Joe Hudson Tsosie Jr. aka Doc". I'm Elaine Wilson Pacheco, Joe was my cousin brother, actually a sibling. My mom Arlene and his mother Margaret were sisters. It means a lot to our family for coming out today to celebrate the life of "Joe". This is a sad day for everyone here. I hope that my words about our cousin brother Joe, will help alleviate some of your grief. I would like to share some fond memories and personal attributes that made "Joe" such a wonderful person. As most of you know, Joe had a big sense of humor, hard-working, generous and humble person. Joe Hudson Tsosie Jr. was born on January 28, 1966 in Albuquerque, NM, entered unto rest, June 16, 2021, age of 55 years old at Tucson Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. Joe was born to the late "Margaret Goseyun Tsosie", his mother of Bylas, AZ., and to the late "Joe H. Tsosie Sr., his father, a Navajo from Canoncito, New Mexico. His parents married traditional way and had three children, oldest being Joe aka Doc, Glenn Tsosie Sr., a brother and a sister, Agatha Mae Tsosie. Joe has many relatives from Navajo Nation, his father side of the family. I remember meeting some of the family in Canoncito, NM, especially his grandmother. Joe not only leaves behind his brother and sister but also his four children. Oldest daughter - Kelly Harvey of Bylas; two Son's - Joe Tsosie III, and Joshua, both of Canoncito, New Mexico - youngest daughter - Kimberly Tsosie of Bylas, AZ. He had several nephews and nieces. Joe grew up in Navajo Point of Bylas. As a toddler, Joe's parents moved back from Canoncito, NM. As a little boy, Joe's parents separated, his father moved back to New Mexico and later passed on. Joe attended Fort Thomas Elementary and High school where he graduated in the year May, 1985. He played all sports and one year he was crowned King of sports and his cousin Savina was crowned Queen of sports, he also received "All Around Defensive & Offensive in Football', 1985. He received awards for baseball too. His cousin Savina stated there was a total 49 Graduating Class and can you believe it, he graduated as one of the top 10 students? His favorite past time was weight lifting, joyriding on his motorcycle, hanging out with the neighborhood boys, especially his best friend "Deloyd Iriving aka "URSE". Joe enjoyed high school, he grew into a handsome high school boy, my mom use to call him "Eric Estrada" from CHIPS TV show because he looked like that movie star Eric Estrada and even had a motorcycle. Joe first met his girlfriend in high school and fell in love with a white girl name "Sally Spettigue". He really liked that blond headed girl with blue eyes, he couldn't wait to go to school. I think because of her he stayed in school and graduated but unfortunately they lost contact after high school and went their own way. After graduating from high school, Joe worked in various places until he applied to go to training in Chicago, Illinois, to be an Ironworker, welder. He successfully completed the training and received his certification. He worked as an Ironworker and held so many jobs. His last training I believe was from SCTI, where he successfully completed training and received certification in Mining Industry. He did work for Freeport mining for a while. His last employment was with San Carlos TERC - Checkpoint security during the coronavirus pandemic, he survived the virus. He worked all night when it was so cold in December, 2020. Turning the page, Joe met his first baby momma, Velma Harvey, I don't know what year that was. Through their relationship, they had a daughter name - Kelly Harvey. She resembles her father so much and grand-mother Margaret Tsosie. Kelly has grown into a beautiful young woman today. Later through the years, Joe met his second baby momma, Marian Mariano, a young Navajo girl from Canoncito, New Mexico. Together they had a son name, Joe Tsosie III. Aka "Chiizee". He's grown into a handsome young man and independent. Then there's Joshua, from the same baby momma, Marian. Joshua is also a young handsome man who I believe is still a teenager, I don't know if he has a Navajo nickname? Then there's his beautiful little girl - Kimberly Tsosie, his baby momma was the late Melanie Steele aka Ella, who passed on years back. Now her daddy is gone, left behind by both parents. Kimberly will be loved and cared for by her surviving family members, please pray for her. Turning the page, I have fond memories of Joe or Doc, he grew up in Navajo Point with us, myself, Toey, Cuddie, Anners, Agatha Mae, Sue, Alvira and Glenn. They were all my siblings, I was their oldest sister. We were a tight knit family, we practically lived under the same roof. Then there was my Grandpa Albert, Uncle Allen, cousins Wesley and Dan - Chocolate, Aunt Margo and mom Arlene. Joe was close with his mom, she was protective of her children, wanted them close by. As kids, we watched our parent, grandpa, uncle, cousin struggle with alcohol. We had to go without at times. But for one thing, they made sure we all attended neighborhood First Miracle church for Sunday school. My siblings probably all remember me, taking forever trying to make gravy for dinner, made tortillas for them at age 10. I practically took care of them while growing up, when they were naughty, I disciplined them which was a spanking, I did everything for them as a big sister would, especially loving all of them as a mom would. Joe, when he was a little boy he was very mischievous, he had a habit of throwing rocks at kids when they made him mad but most of the time, he was content playing with his siblings. He had a favorite stuff toy, a Monkey. His name was curious George, he carried this monkey everywhere he went, his mom would try to take it away from him he would throw a big fit until he outgrew his stuffed toy. I also know how he got his nickname Doctor...while growing up with the neighborhood boys and siblings, they would watch movies, his favorite show in the afternoon was "Dr. Scar", he would make ugly faces like that doctor in the movie SO the kids started calling him "Dr. Scar" then became "Doctor". People would ask him, what kind of Doctor Joe? He was funny, he would say, ugh, Gynecologist? Joe went fishing and hunting for his Grandpa Albert, he made bow & arrows, run around in the hills hunting quails, trapping field rats and rabbits bring it home for grandpa to eat. They packed lunch for a picnic by the river, went swimming all day when the water was still clear and clean. He loved sports especially basketball, all the neighborhood boys gather at the house every evening to play. I remember my Aunt Margo use to pack all the kids in the truck to go shopping in Safford, there was a lot of us including my cousins from across the street. One day we went to Safford, we were told to always stick together, don't go roaming off or they're in trouble when we got home. We all stuck together while shopping until we left back to Bylas. Nobody notice Doctor - Joe was missing until later on towards the evening, he was nowhere around, none of the kids said anything. My aunt Margo got worried, went back to Safford to look for Joe, until we found out he got left behind in Safford at TG & Y store because someone from Bylas brought him home. We all got chewed out by my aunt because he roamed off. Joe - Doc had a big sense of humor as you all know, he always made people laugh, joked around a lot, very friendly, he was also generous, he would give you his last money if you needed it. Turning the last page, unfortunately Joe's life turned for the worst. While working for TERC Checkpoint security last year, during the coronavirus pandemic, it was very cold and he worked graveyard shift when he developed pneumonia, started having complications with his health. He was in and out of the hospital at times until he end up at Safford Haven Health for therapy. He was confined there with very little family contact for a while due to coronavirus pandemic. This year, he received family visitation and did good for a long time, looking forward to getting out of the facility. Sadly, his health declined losing eyesight, made him depressed. He told me in Apache, "I am sad because I can't see good, I want to get better so I can go back to Bylas. It's lonely here, I miss everybody". I wanted to break down and cry but encouraged him and told him to pray so he can be healed. On June 16, 2021, I received a call, the bad news I never wanted to hear that my cousin brother passed away. My heart was broken again, first my mom now my cousin brother Doc. God only takes the best, he didn't want Joe to suffer any longer so he called him home. He's rejoicing in the lord, happy, no more suffering from loneliness and sickness. He's with his mom now and all our family members that passed on. Joe was a humble man, I know he prayed to God before he left this earth. Please pray for Joe's family especially his children he left behind. I want to say thank you to this one special generous person that helped Joe in his difficult time in life. Vernadell Johnson-Harvey and her family for being there for Joe, it means a lot to his family. God bless you in return for all you did for Joe. I want to acknowledge and thank you. You have a big heart to take in your cousin brother Doc.... You will be missed Joe, you will always be in our hearts and memories until we meet again. Rest in Peace brother. Hug your mom and my mom for me, tell them I love them... A wake will be held at the Johnson Residence in Bylas at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 25, 2021. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. at Stanley Hall, with interment immediately following at Black Point Cemetery, Bylas, Arizona.