Family Histories: The Jimenez Family

In 1905 Mercedes Grijalva and Benicio Jimenez were married in Nogales, Sonora, They made their home in Nogales, Arizona, where Benicio had a job in masonry. Benicio was very skilled in masonry work. Then the work began to decrease more and more until the job ran out. My father, Benicio, decided to move to areas where jobs were available. In 1913 Benicio and family which included, Mercedes, my mother and Marian, Maggie, Benny and Joe, my older sisters and brothers left Nogales and arrived in Tucson, Arizona. Benicio and family remained in Tucson for about three months. My father wanted steady work but it was not available. He heard that jobs were many in the Buckeye and Mesa area so the family moved again. The family remained in Mesa for as long as the jobs were available. In 1914 the job ran out and again decided to go on and move. This time Florence was selected and this is where he found a steady job and the family was finally settled to stay.

The older members of the family were joined by Celia, Andy, Betty, Rueben, and Rudolph(Mickey). Marian, Maggie, Benny and Joe began to start their own families and soon the younger children were the only ones in the home.

Benicio died on May 13, 1937 after a heart attack, he was 52 years old. But my mother, Mercedes continued to raise her family and work to keep us together. She worked at Pinal General Hospital for ten years and retired in 1955. She was called on to serve as a mid-wife on many occasions. She also served as a foster mother for children who had no home or care. A family from Casa Grande was placed in her home. But due to her age was not allowed to keep them all. Victor Mesa born May 8, 1945 was the only child she kept and later was allowed to adopt. He became a member of the Jimenez Family.

Through the years we lost members of our family, Benny Jimenez Sr., in 1961, Joe Jimenez in 1964, Marian Holt in 1969, Rudolph(Mickey) in 1981, Mercedes, my mother, on July 20, 1982 at the age of 96. Maggie, my sister died April 22, 1994.

The sons and nephews of Benicio and Mercedes served their country proudly during World War Two. Andy in the Marines, Lindy, also in the Marines, Raul, Joe and Mickey in the Army.

After the War families started to settle down and raise families. I married Lupe Parra. We had five children, Andy Jr., Tony, Danny, Martha and Sylvia. Andy Jr., married Becky Ruiz and have one son, Jacob, Tony married Lisa Tripp and have three children, Suzanne, Annie and Richard. Daniel married Maria Borbon and have two sons, Daniel and Enrique. Martha Jimenez has two children, Casey Linn and Brennan Moraga. The baby of the family, Sylvia married Terry Tryon. They have one son, Mickey Dane Tryon and soon there will be another family member for Sylvia and Terry.

I am glad to have been a part of this great event, The 125th Anniversary of the Catholic Church of the Assumption in Florence.

Andy Jimenez

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