- Date Of Birth: July 3, 1935
- Date Of Death: February 26, 2021
- State: Colorado
Jess Earnest Ruiz, 85, of Denver, CO passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Jesus Ernesto “Jess Earnest” Ruiz was born July 3, 1935, in Longmont, Colorado. Jess is the son of Adolph and Rita (Arroyo) Ruiz.
Jess is survived by his Son Ernie Ruiz, (Carol Sandoval), (Cynthia Marquez), Daughter Bernadine Ruiz, Granddaughter Jenifer Romero, (Adam Romero), Great-grandsons Christopher Romero, Eric Romero, Granddaughter Jesica Klein, (Timothy Klein), Grandson Daniel Ruiz, Brother in-law (Diomar Sanchez), Sister in law (Esperanza Ruiz), Brother Ralph Ruiz, (Pauline Ruiz), Sister Mary Greenwalt, (Tom Greenwalt), Sister Flora Mills, (Ralph Mills), Sister in law (Mona Ruiz), Sister in law (Connie Pacheco), Sister in law (Jody Franco), Brother-in-law Aurelio Franco, and Brother-in-law Vincent, (Hisako Yasukawa Jordan), and many favorite nieces and nephews.
Jess was preceded into eternal life by the love of his life and wife Cathrine “Lina” Franco Ruiz, Adolph and Rita (Arroyo) Ruiz, Brother Robert Ruiz, (Mildred Ruiz), sister Cora R. Sanchez, Brother Manuel Ruiz, Brother Adolph Ruiz, (Josephine Ruiz), Brother Nickolas Ruiz, Brother Joseph Ruiz, Father in law Bernabe Franco, Mother in law Natividad Franco, Brother in law Albert Razo, (Lelah Razo), Brother in law Margarito Franco, Brother in-law Stanley Franco, Brother in-law Joe Franco, (Juana Franco), Sister in law Georgia Vega, (David Vega), Sister in law (Marcella Franco), Nephew Cheeque Vega.
Jess joined the US Marine corps in 1954.
His wife could cook. Jess enjoyed the best food, Lina spoiled him to the max. They remained married for the next 64 years with some amazing adventures along the way. Jess had the privilege to be with Lina on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, when she went to be with the Lord. He was able to pray with her when she went to sleep for the last time. 108 days, later Jess joined Lina in eternal life. They truly were inseparable for life.
Jess was known as a “good man”. So many stories about how he was a gentle giant.
Jess’s niece Anna Franco remembers Saturday’s were a time with her dad Lelo. Many of those Saturdays she remembers picking up her uncle Jess to go get coffee. Lelo would say “come on let’s go pick up uncle Jess.” They would carry on for 3 hours, just drinking coffee. Uncle Jess was always around.
Jess’s nephew Steve Vega talked about how he would go to work mornings, take a nap and go to his job in the evening.
Jess’s niece Dina Franco talked about going to her grandma Natividad Franco’s house. Where grandma Franco would have stacks of fresh homemade tortillas for her sons; And there was Jess, he was right there with the Franco boys. Jess’s mother in law Natividad loved Jess dearly.
Jess’s nephew Eric Ruiz remembers how uncle Jess would always tell us stories when we were small, he’d make us laugh. When Eric was small, he never smiled, he always had that mad face. So, uncle Jess says “I’m going to call Eric smiley from now on.” So, he always did.
Jess would make anyone around him feel like they were the special one. They were all his favorites. He held each and everyone around him close to his heart.
Cynthia Marquez remembered when Jess would work on his apartment houses, Jennifer would follow her grandpa around. Whether he was in the office or fixing a sink, somehow, she would sit on his feet and watch his every move. Then when Jessica grew, she followed in Jennifer’s footsteps; Jessica would sit on Jess’s feet too. As they grew a little older both Jennifer and Jessica decided to help Jess paint. If you could have seen them girls. Their grandpa said “what a great job”, but there was more paint on the girls than the walls. He would have them count the quarters from his pop machine. Then give them a quarter to put in their piggy banks. He tried to take Daniel but he wanted to play with his Legos. Jess keep a Lego helicopter Daniel had made displayed on his bookshelf.
Jess’s Granddaughter Jennifer Romero: Some of my first memories of grandpa are of him taking me to Chubby’s to eat chili while working on his building projects. I can remember often sitting under a plum tree while eating our burritos and chili fries. I couldn’t stop eating this extremely hot food. At the time, my face would turn bright red and tears would flow from my eyes. He would say “Mi hita you don’t have to eat this. I would reply “but grandpa it tastes so good”. He would always chuckle. Little did I know, he was teaching me how to eat real hot chili; which continues on to this day. Don’t forget he had to have his strawberry Fanta with his Chubby’s. I could go on and on about this very special, gracious man. I do know that we were all very special to him. Never forgotten and always in my heart.
Jess’s Granddaughter Jesica remembers how grandpo Jess taught her how to work on houses. Jess let Jesica “practice” building bathrooms and exploring her designing creativity on Jess’s house. He would just say “buen trabajo mi hija”. Just like he practiced on his mom and dad’s garage. Jess fixed everybody’s houses. He was so proud of how many outlets he had every four feet around his house.
Jess entered eternal life on February 26, 2021, at home, surrounded by his family, in Denver Colorado.
