Jose Balli "Joe" Perez

Jose (Joe) Balli Perez, 87, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on March 5, 2026. Born on April 7, 1938, in McAllen, Texas, he was the son of Florencio and Herlinda Perez. Joe spent most of his life in Colorado before relocating to Illinois in 2010 and eventually settling in Arizona in 2019.

A humble and private man, Joe was known for his exemplary manners, quiet strength, and fierce protectiveness of his family. An avid fisherman, gardener, mechanic, baseball enthusiast, and loyal Dallas Cowboys fan, he took great pride in his beautiful family and had a special way of making each person feel uniquely valued. His loving, forgiving, and gentle presence served as the anchor for his family, who will miss the quiet comfort he brought to their lives and will carry forward his legacy.

Joe is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maria Ofelia Perez; his children, Yvonne (Greg) Barres of Arizona, Yolanda (Daryl) Fox of Arizona, Jose Perez Jr. of Illinois, Armando (LeighAnn) Perez of Arizona, and Diana (Darien) Hammett of Ohio; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Julia Prock of Arizona, Mary P. Perez of Texas, and Florencio Perez Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florencio and Herlinda Perez; his brother Esteban Perez; his sons Daniel Perez (newborn) and Orlando (Londo) Perez, age 46; and his grandson Lincoln Hammett, 18 months.