Feliciano Mendez Jr. (01-09-12)

LULA - Feliciano Mendez, Jr., 68, died Monday, January 9, 2012, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, following an extended illness.

He was born November 1, 1943, the son of the late Feliciano and Timotea Mendez, Sr. Mr. Mendez was a Marine Sergeant where he served three terms in the Vietnam War. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and numerous other ribbons and citations. Mr. Mendez was a member of First Baptist Church in Gainesville, VFW and DAV.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Drake Mendez; a son, Vincet Mendez, Sugar Hill; son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Kathy Mendez, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; daughter, Ursula Cade, Portsmouth, Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Angie McKernan, Williamson; daughters, Sondra McKernan, Canton, and Sherry L. Smith, Gainesville; daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Ken Donnelly, Powder Springs; brother and sister-in-law, Trinidad and Carmen Mendez, Shelby, Mich.; sisters, Lucia Galvan, Hart, Mich. and Maria Del Refrigo Paiz, Alice, Texas; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and John Moen, Norton Shores, Mich.; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be AT 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 13, at the chapel of First Baptist Church of Gainesville with interment following at Memorial Park South Cemetery. Bill Coates will officiate. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, January 12, at Memorial Park South Funeral Home.

Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch, is in charge of arrangements.