Josie Ayala

JOSIE AYALA

PHARR — Josie Ayala, 53, died Friday, February 20, 2009, at McAllen
Medical Center.

Ms. Ayala was born in Pharr and was a~teacher~at PSJA~High School. During
her 20 years at PSJA High she coached softball, cross-country and
track.~Josie was well respected and loved by everyone who came into her
life; her coaching and teaching friends, her family, and most important
her present and former students.~Reaching out to those who needed help
emotionally, financially, or academically, was her most important endeavor
in life.~She will be greatly missed by everyone whom she touched by her
loving and caring ways.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Maria Inez Ayala; a brother, Juan
Manuel Ayala; a sister, Esmeralda Ayala; and maternal grandparents, Jose
Maria Sanchez and Eduvijes Sanchez.

Ms. Ayala is survived by her father, Jose Avelino Ayala of Corpus Christi,
Texas; four brothers, Julio (Elizabeth) Ayala of Edinburg, Pablo (Yolanda)
Ayala of Lincoln Park, Michigan, Guadalupe~A. (Shelba) Ayala of River
Rouge, Michigan and Arturo (Guadalupe) Ayala of San Juan; four sisters,
Mary (Joe) Ramirez of Edinburg, Janie (Jesse) Martinez of McAllen, Gloria
(Exequiel) Navarro of Pharr, Hilda (Jesus ) Estrada of Dearborn, Michigan;
four half brothers, Joe (Debbie) Ayala, Adam (Soledia) Ayala, Miguel Angel
(Francis) Ayala, Noe (Lisa) Ayala, all of Corpus Christi, Texas; three
half sisters, Guadalupe (Rogelio) Rodriguez, Teresa (John) Folan, Lupita
(Efrain) Franco, all of Corpus Christi, Texas; an aunt, Mary (Gilbert)
Cantu; an uncle, Fernando (Otila) Sanchez; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 to 9 p.m.,~with a
7 p.m. rosary, today, February 25, 2009, at Memorial~Funeral Home in San
Juan. A school and community celebration will~take place~from 3:45 to 5 p.m.
today, February 25, 2009, at PSJA High School Gymnasium.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, February 26, 2009 at St.
Anne's Catholic Church in Pharr.~Interment of her cremated remains will
take place at 4 p.m. at Palm Valley Memorial Gardens in Pharr.

Memorial contributions for K-9 Rescue Association on behalf of Josie
Ayala~can be sent to First National Bank, account number 0091074533.

Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in San
Juan.