Steve R. Mendoza,

ELOY ? Steve R. ?Clos? Mendoza Sr., 75, of Eloy died Aug. 23, 2009 at home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Valley Chapel, with Pastor Russ Ryals and Brother Cruz Flores officiating. Burial will be in Eloy Memorial Park.

Mr. Mendoza was born Dec. 26, 1933 in Tucson to Felipa Ramirez and Jose Mendoza. He worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as a machine operator and retired in 1996 after 30 years. He had many friends there. He was devoted to his family. He was a musician and loved music, especially that of Trio Los Panchos. He played his requinto guitar for the last time with his compadre Filomeno Flores while at Hospice Compassus.

He also was a ?health nut? and enjoyed watching Jack LaLanne. He liked to take walks down Battaglia Road and occasionally brought home stray dogs. He could be found running around the yard with his dog Lilo. His grandchildren called him their ?summer boot camp drill instructor.? He would pick them up at the crack of dawn to run laps at the junior high school, then go to his home for boxing and weight lifting, in which he coached them. Grandsons and granddaughters participated.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Rita F.; six daughters, Jessie M. Salazar of Tucson, Ruby G. Barron of Eloy, Rosa C. Mendoza of Reno, Nev., Sylvia M. Flores of Stockton, Calif., Diana M. Talamantes of Eloy and Stephanie M. Perea of Coolidge; four sons, Steve J. Mendoza Jr. of Tucson, George D. Mendoza of Eloy, Chris Mendoza of Gilbert and Steve Lopez of Tucson; a sister, Barbara Mendoza of Tucson; a brother, Frank Mendoza of Casa Grande; 28 grandchildren; and 49 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Maria L. Flores.