Jose R. Diaz was born in Miami, Arizona, and was raised in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, where he lived until he was around 19 years old. He returned to Arizona and traveled as a migrant worker across the United States.  In 1957, he was hired by Magma Copper Company in San Manuel Arizona, as a timberman. He worked for the mine for 26 1/2 years, until he retired on full disability following a mining accident where he lost his right leg.

He was deeply involved in his Catholic faith as a Eucharist Minister and assisted priests during Mass. He ministered at the Wilmot Prison and would preach the Gospel and give the sacrament of Eucharist to the prisoners. He did missionary work for Bishop Kicanas in Oaxaca, Mexico.  He also worked as a crossing guard for 20 years for the Tucson Unified School District. He enjoyed his work so much as a crossing guard that he returned to work as soon as he could following an accident where he was struck by a car.

He married Ramona Torres on July 11, 1959, and they remained together for 59 years until her death in 2018. He is survived by his children Martin, Jose (Socorro), Gene (Suzie), and Laura (Ron), and his grandchildren, Joseph (Suzette), Gabriella, Krysta (Christopher), Olivia, Joshua (Elizabeth), and Michael, and his great grandchildren, Michael, Joseph, and Gianna.

Jose was a loving and generous person that cared deeply for his family. He loved taking care of his grandchildren alongside his wife, Ramona, and helped raise them when they were younger. He was supportive of each of their endeavors and wished nothing but success for all of them, acting as a source of motivation for everyone he knew.

In his free time, Jose enjoyed helping however he could with his children on projects. He was not one to sit around all day, even in his later years, as he would often be found cleaning his house, walking, and running errands when he could. Much to the surprise of his family, he once removed a tree stump from his front yard without asking anyone for help. He would play Solitaire and dominoes frequently, as well as watch Western movies and enjoyed having a beer with his sons while they were grilling.

He was humble and his faith was an example for all. The phrase "He is a man with a direct connection to God," was often said as he would pray for someone to have a good day, pray for someone during major life events, and before every meal. Whenever his family would come to visit, he would always say goodbye by making a cross on their forehead, saying a prayer, and ending with "I love you."

Jose passed away on June 27, 2024. Thank you to Maria and the staff at La Paz Assisted Living that helped take care of him for the past 6 months. He leaves behind a great legacy filled with faith, love and determination. Thank you for being a part of our lives, we love you and we will miss you Tata.