Obituary of Joe Leon Fernandez

Joe Leon Fernandez 80, of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, March 8, 2020 at Windsor Place in Coffeyville, Kansas A Rosary Vigil Service will be at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 12th at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Daniel Lorimer officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. Joe was born April 19, 1939 in Coffeyville, Kansas to Consuelo (nee Sanchez) and Ausencio Fernandez. He was raised in Coffeyville and graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1958. During his school years he worked at the Coffeyville Journal, hay fields, and Jones Sinclair Service. He joined the U.S. Navy in October 1958 and after basic training at San Diego California and aircraft maintenance training at Memphis, Tennessee he was assigned to attack squadron VA-145 as a structural and hydraulic mechanic for AD6 & AD7 Douglas Skyraiders and was commended for his part in the implementation of an AD aircraft Avionics Bulletin. While attached to VA-145 he made two Far East cruises aboard aircraft carriers USS Oriskany and USS Lexington. Joe was proud of his service and had fond memories of his experiences overseas including Shore Patrol assignments. He completed his active duty with the rank of AMS-2 (E-5) in 1962. Joe then attended Coffeyville Junior College and graduated in 1964 with an AA degree in mechanical technology. Joe went to work at Funk Manufacturing (now John Deere) in 1963 and retired in 2002. Joe attended Holy Name Catholic Church where he updated the Calvary Cemetery map and was a past member of the Holy Name School Board. He also served on the Coffeyville urban renewal loan review board, recreation commission, board of zoning appeals, and FKHS class of '58 reunion committee. In his younger days Joe participated in baseball, softball, hunting, fishing, and rattlesnake hunting. He enjoyed country and western music and vegetable gardening. Joe married Carolyn A. Keeler in July 1963, they divorced in 1989. He married Maria L. Don in April 2005, she survives. He is also survived by brother John P. Roldan, daughters Sandra L. Donahue, Connie Pam Bates (Don), son Joe J. Fernandez (Jenny), step daughter Haydee Herrera, step sons Kenneth Saldana (Vanessa), and Dan Saldana, 6 grandchildren and 6 step grand children and several dear cousins and aunts and uncles. Half brothers Reynaldo Fernandez, Ausencio Fernandez, Enrique Fernandez, half sister Maria Del Carmen Fernandez, and madrastra Alicia Fernandez. Joe was preceded in death by his mother Consuelo and father Ausencio.