Miss you my sweet cousin. Definitely always about family, meeting for lunch when I was in town or letting me visit you and your family - on your vacations in California. I posted my favorite picture of you and your boys at Seal Beach. Other fun memories are me bumping into you on the Metro Campus and trying to convince you that the chocolate chips cookies I had made really were healthy because I put walnuts in them. You ate them happily regardless of if they had nuts or not! Another one was me picking you up to teach you how to drive a car with a clutch. We got in the car with a bumpy start, made it through 3-4 lights - where you got to work the clutch some more then hit the highway and drove down to The Garden of the Gods. Had a fun day in the park and driving the highway but I'm not sure you really got any good clutch practice time in! I will miss our late night texting sessions. Peace to you.

Joe and I really got to know each other and became friends when we were at the same junior high school.  I remember staying overnight at their house, in the basement messing around with the computer for hours.  And then waking up way too early to tag along while Joe & uncle Larry would drive around the neighborhood for Joe’s paper route.  For those old enough to remember the pre-internet days, we ran a BBS together and had a good time doing that for the year or two it lasted. 

We also went to the same high school, and continued to see other fairly often.  Joe was amazed at my first car - not that it was great, but at how huge it was and that I was able to maneuver it around while we would cruise around doing whatever teenagers did back then.  

After we both graduated from high school life took us in different directions, but we reconnected when the Marquez reunions started happening more often.  As adults Joe and I would get together a few times a year for dinner, and would end up sitting around talking for hours in the restaurant.  Even though we weren’t in constant contact, every time I saw Joe it was like no time had passed and we just picked right back up wherever we’d left off the last time.  As we talked it was easy to see that his sons were always his top priority.  When Justin got his first job and Joe was telling me about it, it was clear that he was very proud of Justin.

Every time I think of Joe, in my head I hear his laugh.  As so many others have said he laughed a lot, and was always smiling.  From all of the posts on this memorial website, it’s obvious that he touched a lot of lives and will be greatly missed.

I just wanted to write that I remember how much Joe loved his siblings. We often spoke about how much he loved them and he would say how he wished he could be there more for them. He felt bad that they had lost touch for a bit but he understood that's just the way of life. There are times when our life obligations don't allow for much more than getting through the day with our sanity in check.

When Joe moved out of his house a few years ago into an apartment he was in a real bind. We were able to provide him with a few pieces of furniture but what he really needed was muscle.  I suggested that Joe reach out to his sister, Debbie for help. He hesitated because they hadn't touched base for a little while but I reminded him that family always comes through for you. It's true. Debbie, you and your entire family dropped everything at the last minute and showed up for Joe.  At times like this we often look back on the things we regret and things we wished we had done.  But Debbie this is the kind of thing that mattered. It was genuine act of love and it meant the world to Joe.  He knew how much you loved him.  Both you and A.
Love, Michele

You are missed.  To see card click on the PDF.

The beauty of being in a family of so many cousins (47,452 as Chico noted), is a wonderful sense of belonging and being anchored in a solid family history. The difficulty of being in a family among so many cousins, is suffering each sorrowful loss. 
Joe’s big bright smile, big laugh, and bear hugs were his unique signature in a crowd of cousins. My reunion memories of Joe (and the photos prove it) are that he literally glowed with enthusiasm for family life.Even though seeming a bit shy, he moved into the crowd and connected. It was wonderful to watch Joe grow up and become a father to his three beloved sons…clearly his proudest accomplishment.  Joseph Lawrence Marquez, youngest of our generation, we will remember you always.

For everyone who remembers late elementary school early middle school…that is where my story begins.  Kids can be cruel and Joe was not.  He reached out to me and we developed  a friendship that remained strong for over 40 years.  My best memory as a kid was spending all night setting up dominoes to watch them fall.  I’ll remember his laugh and sense of humor that he shared with his mom.  As adults, I will remember the relationship that he developed with his kids and his willingness to include my family in his.  I’m going to miss you Joe

We will miss this great cousin who always was in great spirits and had his moms deep laugh. He accomplished quite a bit in his sadden short life. Joe always came by our family gatherings in Dad & Moms (Aunt Lucy/Uncle Phil’s)backyard, always fun and you will hear his laugh in the background somewhere,!! That was Joe,. He visited us often, he loved family, just loved it no matter with who or where. That was Joe,. He was very proud of his boys, loved to talk about them, his family, his work and we talked sports, he loved the Broncos, always had interesting conversations. That was Joe,. He passed to soon, to quick, we missed out on future conversations and just talk. A great Dad. A great Husband. A great guy. We will miss you. God Bless.

Cuz, I always loved hanging out with you on our trips back to the Marquez homeland for our reunions. It wasn't just the fact that of the 47,452 cousins, you were one of three grandsons with the Marquez name: Your ready smile and easy laugh always made it seem we had just talked the other day and were simply continuing the conversation. I noted with pride your career accomplishments and loved speaking "geek" with you (and your dad, too). Someday we'll have the chance to continue those conversations; we'll have a lot to talk about.

Gilbert J. "Chico" Marquez