Joseph Henry Santos

On May 27, 2016, Joseph Henry Santos passed away peacefully at the age of 89. Joe was born on March 15, 1927 as he always told everyone, or March 16, 1927 like his birth certificate says, to Manuel and Marie Santos on the family homestead on McAdams Creek in Fort Jones. Joe graduated from Fort Jones High School in 1946 and was drafted into the Army to fight in the Korean War, where he drove munitions trucks. Upon his discharge from the Army, he and his buddies managed to smuggle their companies’ dog back to the states on their ship in a duffle bag. Joe worked in the logging industry for several years after the army, working at a sawmill and for local loggers as a choker setter before taking a job at the Fort Jones Elementary School as head of maintenance/custodian in 1972. He always loved to play practical jokes and make comical faces and noises at children wherever he was. If you worked at the school you never knew when you might be the victim of one of his pranks. While working at Fort Jones Elementary, he was a mentor to many students and always had one or two tagging along to help on whatever task he was working on. This carried over to home, where students were always welcome to hang out for as long as they wanted. He retired in 1989 after 17 years. He served as Etna 4-H beef and community leader for several years. He drove the big green cattle truck to the Junior Grand National at the Cow Palace for 10 years. It was always a battle to see which 4-Hers got to ride with Joe and the beef, sheep and hogs. Joe was a stranger to no one and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed help. There were many times the ranch stock trailers became a moving van for friends, family and neighbors. Joe loved hunting, gardening and fast cars. He raised a huge garden every year to share with friends and family throughout the valley. He also enjoyed driving around checking cattle through the backroads of Siskiyou County. His favorite cars were a black Ford Coupe and a black 65 Ford Galaxy. He was in charge of irrigating, discing and planting on the family ranch and was always proud of the lush green fields he grew for hay and fall pastures. He was extremely proud of his garden. Joe milked the family cow for years providing farm fresh milk to his family and several other milk customers. He helped his grandchildren with their 4-H projects, getting them ready for fair and teaching them about Farming and Ranching, along with many other children who came to visit, including his nieces and nephews who spent the summer on the ranch. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Maxine Costa Santos; children, Carla Loring (Mike) of Longview, WA. and Caroline Luiz (Joe) of Fort Jones; grandchildren, Nicole Stevens (Ross), Keri Luiz, Elyse Loring, Natalie Loring; great grandchildren, Tylinn Loring and Mason Stevens; sister, Eva Fowler of Puyallup, WA and many nieces and nephews scattered throughout California, Oregon, Washington and Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Marie; brothers, Fred and John Santos and sisters, Hilda Reynolds, Gloria Santos and Lenora Carr. A recitation of the rosary will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Fort Jones on Friday, June 3rd at 10:30 a.m. with a memorial mass following at 11:00 a.m. A burial will take place after at the Fort Jones Catholic Cemetery. The family would like to thank care giver Gwen Robinson who has been helping with his care for the past five and a half years. Donations in his memory can be made to Madrone Hospice House at 255 Collier Circle, Yreka or to a charity of your choice.

Joseph Henry Santos

March 16, 1927 - May 27, 2016