Uriel Arturo Villa Mendoza Jr. Obituary (1988

Our beloved son, brother, father, uncle, Uriel was taken too soon from us. Uriel is survived by his daughter Nevaeh, sister Brianna, and parents Cristina Villa-Mendoza and Alan Bernard, Uriel Sr. and Connie Mendoza, stepsiblings, nephews/nieces, Grandparents Eugenio and Petra Villa and Lucia Mendoza, stepsiblings, nephews/nieces, many uncles, aunts, and cousins. Our family-tree was a "family-forest" and that alone was just the immediate family with too many to name. As of Uriels passing, this will remain to be our legacy as its so appropriately named since he loved pine trees and loved all of his familia. Uriel is predeceased by his uncle Gilbert Mendoza, grand-father Pedro Mendoza, baby cousin Destinee Villa, stepsister Ashley Bernard, and many great uncles and aunts who loved him so much. Uriel was born in Yakima, WA, and raised in the Tri-Cities and Yakima, where he graduated from West Valley High School in 2006. After graduation, Uriel began his next journey with the U.S. Air Force from August 8, 2006 - November 16, 2011. Uriel was an Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst and is a Veteran of the Gulf War Era, serving in the mission as a Tactical Support Operator in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Uriel loved to cook and last worked with Centerplate Catering in the Yakima Convention Center. He was a bar-back/bartender, optometric technician, cook/prep cook, cashier, assistant manager. Uriel loved to fish and sit by the river, which brought him inner peace. He especially loved pine trees and going for hikes in the woods where he felt closest to God and was looking forward to hiking up Mt. Rainier again. Uriel made many friends along the way and brothers/sisters-in-arms. For those who knew him, he was remembered as having a huge and kind heart of gold; was always very giving and loving. He was quite the jokester, loved music, food, loved to help the homeless and was so highly intelligent that he always amazed me. Uriel suffered greatly from PTSD after the war, which ultimately, he lost the battle against. Our family asks that if you know someone who is suffering with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, PLEASE help them with resources to get well and never give up on them because they will always need support. We ask that in lieu of flowers, please use that money to take meals/blankets/clothing to the homeless. We are ALL Gods children, and you never know what one is going through. My beautiful angel baby, my rock and my soul; I will forever be grateful to you for bringing me so much love, joy, and laughter. I am missing our conversations, your laughter, and looking at your beautiful eyes, but only because I know you are no longer suffering, FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND. Rest in Paradise My Love . . . I look forward to the day that we will be together again. I Love You More-ever, Momma. Viewing is scheduled for Friday, April 22, 2022 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home (201 N. 2nd St, Yakima, WA 98901) with a Vigil beginning at 6:00pm. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, also at Shaw & Sons, at 1:00pm. Visitation Shaw and Sons Funeral Home Friday, April 22, 2022 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM 201 N 2nd St. Yakima, Washington 98901 Funeral Service Shaw and Sons Funeral Home Saturday, April 23, 2022 1:00 PM 201 N 2nd St. Yakima, Washington 98901