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Life story

".Tony Lee Rios
August 11th, 1970
January 19th, 2024
Age 53

Tony Rios passed away at the age of 53 in Spokane , Washington, where he lived. Back in the day, Tony was known as Tony Boy. When you heard those words, you knew people were talking about one of the five brothers. He grew up for the most part in Sterling Colorado, and after mom passed away, he moved with our father, Ben Rios, to Fresno, California, where he spent many years. Tony had the chance to move to Spokane Washington with a few of the siblings, so he did. Thats where he called home. He would do anything for you, anything for money. He did odd jobs, working with one of the brothers at a local company, working with a sister at her place of business, working with family members. Through this all, Tony had a mind of his own and made good and bad choices. He knew he did, and he knew that when siblings were not happy with him, he still believed in family.
Tony was married once, and at the time of death, he had been single for years. His surviving daughter Crystal Monique loved her daddy, and Tony knew it. He has a great granddaughter and many grandkids whom he loved. He didnt show much affection however you knew he was thinking about you and when he called and acted silly he was trying to break the ice, or when he was fibbing he would say nana, and laugh!
Tony loved to draw and color, and most of the family members have a keepsake he did for them. His favorite drawing of the expression Smile now, Cry later means to enjoy the present moment and deal with the consequences later. That was exactly Tony! He would do some shady things in life, and for me, I would think of what he always said. He was a jokester at heart and never really wanted to make anyone sad or feel bad. Tony would love to corner a brother, sister, nephew, or niece to do a tattoo on. Some of my family members have tattoos from many years ago. Just found out that a nephew of ours had Tony put a tattoo of his mommas name on his body. Did Tony try to talk him out of it? NO! Who does that&
He wanted to connect to family. However, sometimes lifes circumstances lead him down a different path. There were years when Tony was lost, and somehow, by the good graces of God, he was found. He would talk to you like he was always here. It was easy to forgive him for the petty things he had done in life because at the end of the day, he would make you laugh and smile. Tony made his choices, and he knew it, after his first amputation he said Oh Im going to follow all my docs orders so this leg can heal, he skated on the thin line and eventually that first cut went septic, and he had to have a second amputation on the same leg (further up). He was sad, we all were sad, however he took the news like a champion. He was healing from the second cut, and then he fell! Oh my gosh, and the docs said your leg is not healing and we need to cut above the knee. So, they did, was he scared, I thought he was, and he endured that third hospital stay, and was thankful for our step mom Jan. She was close, and she would visit him, take him snacks, and look out for his well-being. That means she did let Bernie and RoseAnn know when he was up to no good. The moment he started feeling better, he was up to his old tricks. All in all, our brother Tony Rios did what he wanted, and he lived life in the moment. Please know that he was a loved brother of ours.

Service as follows

Private viewing for immediate family only on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 3pm, Heritage Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life
Will be held at the Round Table,
back private room.
February 3, 2024
4510 S. Regal Street, Spokane, WA. Time: 1-2pm Narrated by Jeff Mikesell, Obituary reading by Christie Rios
Slide show of memories, stories from friends and family members
"A walk down memory lane with Tony Rios"
2-4pm Food, drinks, and cake will be provided by the family.
Thank you, and God Bless"