José “Joe” Hernandez, 85, of Parsons died at 4:25 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, at his home. He had been in failing health.

He was born Aug. 29, 1924, in Parsons to Espedito and Clotilde (Martinez) Hernandez. He grew up in Parsons where he attended schools. He served in the U.S. Army during and after World War II.

On Nov. 27, 1948, he married Avelina Yañez at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Parsons. He worked as a custodian at Parsons USD 503 until retiring.

Survivors include his wife, Avelina Hernandez of the home; three sons, Thomas J. “Tom” Hernandez of Buhler, Nathan J. Hernandez and Martin J. Hernandez, both of Parsons; three daughters, Sylvia Meza of Anaheim, Calif., Vivian Clark of Pittsburg and Veronica Long of Parsons; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Henry Hernandez of Kansas City, Kan.; and three sisters, Socorro Asebedo of Parsons, Alice Perez of Humboldt and Beatrice Villigan of Minneapolis, Minn.

The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons where the family will receive friends immediately following.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s School Endowment Fund or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.