Julio Pastrana age 83, of Yakima, WA, died peacefully in the arms of his loving wife on Monday, September 16, 2024. Julio was born December 20, 1940, in Crowley, Colorado, to Jose & Cesaria Pastrana. He graduated from Wapato High School in 1958. Two years later, he married the love of his life, Mary Lou Perez, in Yakima, where they remained and raised their four children, Diana, Tony, Lisa, and Tommy.

Many around the Yakima Valley knew Julio from sports he was involved with. He played city league basketball for 13 years, played and coached fastpitch softball for 25 years, and enjoyed playing in a competitive mixed pool league and men's pool league.

Julio retired from the WA ST Dept of Transportation after many years of keeping our roads clean, shoveled, and cleared. He met and kept many friends from the DOT and was a mentor to some of the younger ones.

Julio had a love for all sports, which led him to be a fiercely loyal Seattle sports fan, always rooting for the Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, and Kracken. He never made it to a Seahawks game but attended many Mariner games over the years including going to the first All Star game when it was held in Seattle, with his son Tony.

Julio also enjoyed being at the race track–betting on horses and schooling his grandkids on the trifecta, gambling at casinos around the state (seemingly winning more than losing), teaching his grandkids how to fish, and loved a good Arctic Circle milkshake.

Julio was a 20-year cancer survivor. The years recovering from chemo and radiation never prevented him from doing all the things he loved, including traveling with his family. He went to Maine to watch his granddaughter play soccer and explore the East Coast; to Austin Texas for a family wedding and to visit his eldest granddaughter, Nichol; and most recently to Hawaii to celebrate his 80th birthday and 60th wedding anniversary. His last trip was first class to Reno to relax, be with his family, and of course gamble a bit.

Julio was always surrounded by family and enjoyed spending time with each of them. He attended as many of his grandkids and great grandkids sporting events, even those that were played out of town! If you knew Julio you likely argued with him and no matter if he was wrong or right he generally ended the discussion with “can’t I just ask a question.” His knowledge, laugh, whistles, and life will be forever missed.

Services for Julio will be held this weekend with a viewing on Friday, September 20 at Shaw & Sons 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, followed by a Rosary at 4:00 PM. If attending, we would love to see you rep your Seattle Mariners or Seattle Seahawks attire. The funeral service will be Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church with a reception to follow at the Yakima Convention & Event Center.

Julio was preceded in death by his parents Jose and Cesaria Pastrana, siblings Joe Pastrana, Marcelino Pastrana, Irene Guevara, Victoria Pastrana, Eusebio Pastrana, Gil Pastrana, Emilio Pastrana, Lupe Madayag, and daughter Diana Pastrana.

Julio is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Lou Pastrana; sister Juanita Zagelow; children Tony Pastrana, Lisa (Steve) Krous, and Tommy Pastrana, all of Yakima, and son-in-law Cain Morehead of Seattle; grandchildren Nichol Esparza, Cassi (Alex) Milden, Alli (Alex) Young, Ema Lee (AJ) Salazar, Trevor Sampson, and Noah Pastrana; and seven great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations are made to the Diana Pastrana Wig & Hat Boutique at the Wellness House of Yakima (6006 Summitview Ave, Yakima, WA 98908).