Jose Luis Gardea

Jose Luis Gardea, born on September 25, 1949, in El Paso, Texas, passed away on January 5, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family after a difficult battle with dementia. Jose was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose life was defined by love, service, and quiet strength. He is survived by his loving spouse, Maria Gardea; his daughters, Diana Gardea and Rachel Gardea; and his cherished granddaughters, Audrey and Ava, who brought him immense joy and pride. He is also survived by his half-sister, Rosa Gonzalez, and countless extended family members. A true handyman and jack of all trades, Jose had a lifelong love of taking things apart and fixing them. There was little he couldn't figure out. Whether working with tools, machinery, or delicate materials, his hands could build and repair almost anything. He found happiness in understanding how things worked and making them better. His curiosity and problem-solving spirit reflected the way he lived his life-always learning something new. Jose's interests were as wide-ranging as his skills. His passions included photography, HAM radio, mechanics, and jewelry making-all of which were self-taught. His working life reflected his adaptability and resilience: mining, a moving company, sheet metal fabrication, and HVAC installation, to name a few. In his younger years, he was a wanderer, doing random jobs to get him to his next adventure. His stories ranged from the middle of nowhere Montana to Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, and everywhere in between. In 1981, Jose was introduced to the truth, which led him to "examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true." On July 5, 1991, Jose was baptized, marking the beginning of a deep zeal for service. Throughout the 1990s, he and his service buddies could be found every Saturday either in Stanton looking for "ol soreheads" to preach to, having coffee at Whataburger, or helping with RBC. He loved listening to recordings of Bible talks as far back as the 1930s. To the very end, Jose held firmly to his strong faith and comforting hope in the resurrection. Jose will be remembered for his strength, his capable hands, his sharp mind, and, more recently, the deep love he had for his granddaughters. "Papa" attended every recital, field day, and award ceremony of "his girls." Countless hours were spent waiting in carpool lanes after school, always with snacks on hand and usually followed by a trip to Jason's to "get the usual." Papa instilled in the girls his love of learning-trips to the library were common from the moment they could read. More than gifts, he believed in making memories and traditions, so much so that he underwent double knee replacements to be able to take the girls to Disneyland. Jose's story is rich with experiences, lessons, and quiet acts of love-it would truly take many books to tell it fully. Though he is deeply missed, the legacy he leaves behind lives on through the lives he touched and the things he built. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all from the congregation who supported them during this most difficult time, as well as The Garrison Institute of Aging, Dr. Singer and his team, and Hospice of Midland. The family will be accepting visitors on January 9, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at American Heritage Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 5100 N. Lamesa Rd., Hall 1, Midland, TX 79705.

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Jose Luis Gardea

September 25, 1949 - January 5, 2026