Emiliano Mendoza Sanchez, age, 65, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 in Payson, Utah. He was born on August 8, 1953 in San Francisco del Oro, Chihuahua, Mexico, the third of  5 children to Pascual Mendoza and Luisa Sanchez Mendoza. He grew up in enjoying rodeos, riding horses, spending time fishing and entertaining people playing the accordian. He married Maria de Jesus Granados in 1972. They had three sons together, but she passed away very young in 1977.

Emiliano came to the Utah, working hard as a sheepherder and farm laborer. In 1996 he met Hilda Cisneros Avalos. They became companions and he stepped into her life, helping to raise her own three children. They were married on January 8, 2014 in Delta, Utah. He was always a warm and loving father. His favorite activity has been being able to spend time with his grandchildren, and telling his family stories about the ol’ days growing up in Mexico.

He is survived by his wife: Hilda; sons: Domingo (Cecilia) Mendoza, Vicente (Rosa) Mendoza, Tomas Mendoza, all of Chihuahua, Mexico; Jaime Avalos, Hinckley; Jose W. (Laura) Avalos, Sonora, Mexico; daughter: Goretty Avalos, Hinckley; 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; sister: Teresa Mendoza, Oklahoma; brothers: Anselmo (Maria) Mendoza, El Paso, Texas; Lolo Mendoza, Delta, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his 1st wife: Maria de Jesus; parents: Pascual and Luisa; sister: Antonia Mendoza.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, May 20, at 6:00 PM, at the St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Delta.