John Garza Cortez

John Cortez was born in San Antonio, Texas to Celia and Victor Davila Cortez. He grew up in Dearborn, Michigan where he attended the Henry Ford Trade School. He served as a Marine in the Chosin Reservoir battle during the Korean War.

He married in 1955 and three children were born from this union. Marina Lynn Claycomb, Michael Blain Cortez, and Marie Elena Kidd.

He married Ruth Thea Beyer in 1991. After John and Ruth retired from Ford Motor Company, they spent summers sailing the Great Lakes of Michigan and winters traveling looking for a warmer place to settle.

They settled in Tennessee and built a home overlooking the Clinch River.

John moved to Cortez, Colorado in 2012 to live closer to his daughter, Marina.

Due to dementia, he spent his last years at Vista Mesa Assisted Living in Cortez, Colorado. The staff took great care of John, and always had interesting stories to relay to Marina of what he had been up to.

He is survived by his daughters Marina Claycomb (Larry) and Marie Elena Kidd (Robert), four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Vista Mesa in Cortez, Colorado at 2:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the Alzheimer's Association.