DODGE CITY - Michael Valadez, Sr., 90, died Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Dodge City.

He was born February 29, 1928 at Croft, Kansas, the son of Gabriel and Maria (Alvarez) Valadez.  He was a longtime Dodge City resident, living in Garden City for a short period of time.  He started his working career with the Santa Fe Railroad.  He was an entrepreneur and owned and managed several businesses including Discount Fireworks, Taylor Food Mart, the Armor Room, Texaco Gas Station for 10 years and Mike's Skelly Gas Station for 15 years.  He then drove truck for Beaver Express, Fairmont, Rainbow Bread and Cargill. He also drove a taxi and worked at Lopp Motors.  He worked in the laundry department at Cargill until retiring.   He served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1948.  He was stationed in Guam and attained the rank of Seaman First Class.

He was a dad and granddad to many people.  He loved his kids and raised his brothers, sisters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He dedicated his life to his family and he enjoyed bowling, motorcycles, fishing, hunting and dancing but he loved his wife the most.  He will be truly missed by many and was an amazing father.

He was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City.

On September 11, 1948 he married Geneva Hernandez at Kingman, Kansas.  She preceded him in death on June 8, 2014.

Survivors of the home include: daughter, Bernadine Valadez, granddaughter, Connie Valadez Perez and husband Rolando and great grandchildren, Manuel, Victoria, Leana, Alex and Daniel Saldana and Jennifer Chacon and husband Daniel; other survivors, sons, Greg Valadez, Dodge City and Kristopher Valadez, El Dorado, daughters, Sally O'Connor and Mary Ellen Ericson and husband Randy all of San Bernardino, California; Delores Campbell, Dodge City, Alberta Anchondo and husband Hector, Plains, Barbara Wilson and husband Tams, Kenai, Alaska; 2 brothers, Tom Valadez and wife Gloria, Kingman and Earnie Valadez, New Jersey; a sister, Mary Gordon and husband Jim, Wichita; grandchildren, Mechelle Hulse, Mike Valadez, III, Gabriel Valadez, Samuel Valadez, Ruben Valadez, Michael Valadez, Kristopher Valadez Karrington Valadez, Montana Valadez, Deanna Gutierrez, Larry Davis, Nicholas Brown, Joshua Brown, Bryan Campbell, Bradley Campbell, Breanne Campbell, Gregory Valadez, Jeremy Valadez, Lenni Hahn, Maria Boyd, Raquel Saucedo, Ruben Anchondo, Megan Chavez, Amanda Blanton, Laura Ericson and Heather and Josh Poston; many great and great great grandchildren and his dog, Princess.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Victoria Valadez, a son, Michael Gabriel Valadez, Jr., 2 grandsons, Tony Saldana and Brandon Campbell and 7 siblings, Agapita, Consuelo, Miguel, Ambrocio, Nicanora, Maria and Gabriel.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 901 Central Ave., Dodge City, with Fr. Wesley Schawe presiding.  A rosary will take place at 9:00 am Tuesday at the church.  Burial will follow Mass at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Dodge, with full military honors by the United States Navy and American Legion Post 47.  There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place.  Friends may sign the register form 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.

The family suggests memorials to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave, Dodge City, Kansas 67801.