Jose H. Leija

JOSE H. LEIJA, PhD EDINBURG - A long time resident of The Rio Grande Valley, Mr. Jose H. Leija passed away in the comfort of his sister's home on September 1, 2013. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvaro Leija, Sr. and Dionisia H. Leija and sister, Evelia Torres. He is survived by his brothers, Alvaro (Manuela) Leija, Jr. , Juan Jose (Frances) Leija, Reynaldo (Janie) Leija; four sisters, Rosa (Benjamin) Del Toro, Juanita (Beto) Cavazos, Teodora (+Juan) Navarro, Elisa Alonzo; two aunts, Elisa Casarez and Cruzita Bustamante; uncle, Heriberto Herrera; cousin, Manuel (Cristina) Reyes; numerous nieces, nephews and many good friends he considered family. Jose H. Leija was born and raised in Edcouch on August 13, 1948. He attended Pan American University in Edinburg where he obtained a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology and English in 1972, a Master of Science Degree in Biology in 1975, and an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1991. He also received a Completion Doctorate Degree in Medicine from the Universidad del Noreste, Tampico, Mexico in 1979 and a PhD in Philosophy and Public Health through Warren National University in California in 2008. He began his career in Education in 1983 by becoming the Science Department Head at Stafford ISD, in Stafford, Texas, where for six years he helped develop curriculums and taught Biology and Chemistry. By 1991, he began his medical career as Charge Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, later becoming Senior Department Charge Nurse at Edinburg Regional Medical Center until 2005, when he once again joined the education field by becoming the Clinical educator of LifeCare Hospitals of South Texas until 2009. In 2010, he became the Director of Nursing for the Vocational Nursing Program at RGV Careers in Pharr where he remained until his last days. He was a member of multiple national organizations including, but not limited to: Emergency Nursing Association, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, National League of Nursing. A devout Catholic, he was a lifelong member of Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan and Saint Joseph Parish in Edinburg where he was well known for his charitable work to the less fortunate and needy of spiritual guidance. It was his devotion to the Catholic church that prompted him to make a Missionary trip to the country of Bolivia in 1999. He loved tennis and was an active player. He was a loving owner to his dogs Bentley (+), Portia and Anka. The family would like to thank Twila Williams, Kayleen Haun, Faustino Cruz, Martina Leal, Sergio Dimas, Dr. Annabelle Palomo, and Deseray Sepulveda-Valdez for constantly being by his side with encouraging words, providing emotional support to his family, and most importantly their never ending prayers, and the staff at AMARA Hospice for their medical care and support. Memorial service will take place from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary Saturday, September 7, 2013, at Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg. In lieu of flowers, the family would like for monetary donations to be made in his name to The RGV Careers Foundation Joe Leija Scholarship Fund. Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.