Pete Mendez

Pedro “Pete” Mendez, 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep, April 14, 2018 in his home on the East side of Amarillo.

A rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1210 S.E. 11th Ave. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at the Church. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.

Pete was born April 29, 1929 in Delta, Colorado to Jose Mendez and Feliciana Diaz. He attended Dwight Morrow Elementary during the Great Depression, often leaving school during harvesting season and traveling with family to pick sugar, beets, cotton and other crops. When he turned 16, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served 4 years (1945-1949) while stationed in China.

Pete married Jesusita “Jessie” Mendez on June 25, 1950 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He became an entrepreneur and owned an asphalt paving company, Pete’s Paving Inc. which he operated for 30 years. Pete was an outstanding member of the community; he was a founding member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the first Chairman of Las Fiestas de Amarillo, the first President of Los Barrios de Amarillo, past President of Parochial Association of Guadalupe Church and Scout Master of Troop 92.

His other accomplishments include membership in G.I. Forum, Amarillo Catholic Education for the Diocese, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Council, and League of United Latin American Citizens. Pete was also named “Hispanic of the Year” by Los Barrios de Amarillo in 1992 and he and his wife, Jessie served as “Grand Marshalls” of the 1998 Las Fiestas de Amarillo Parade.

Pete is survived by his wife, Jesusita “Jessie” Mendez; sons, Pete F. Mendez, Rudy Mendez and Mark Mendez; daughters, Gloria Valdez and husband Rick and Christi Mendez; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 2 great great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be shared at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com