Edward Briggs

Edward "Joe" Briggs, age 90, died peacefully on January 1, 2026, at his home in Oro Valley, Arizona.

Born on July 22, 1935, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to the late Alton and

Elizabeth Briggs. Edward-known to family and friends as "Joe"-lived a life defined by faith, service,

and devoted love for his family. A lifelong Catholic, Joe sought to serve God in all aspects of his life and

was guided by prayer, humility, and a strong moral compass.

Joe attended Altoona Catholic High School, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Oklahoma,

St. Francis College, and the University of Maryland, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business

Administration. He proudly served four years in the United States Air Force, followed by a long and

distinguished 32-year career with the Department of Defense, serving faithfully until his retirement in

1993. He viewed his service to his country as a calling, carried out with honor, integrity, and dedication.

Joe's career led him and his family on a remarkable journey around the world. While living in Frankfurt,

Germany, he met Catherine Rose Seery, who was teaching for the U.S. Army-a meeting that marked

the beginning of a lifelong adventure. They were married on April 18, 1964, and were blessed with four

children. Their early years together took them from Baltimore, Maryland, to Seoul, South Korea, where

Joe and Catherine embraced life abroad, along with the joys and challenges of raising a family

overseas. Along the way, they even received what Joe and Catherine liked to call "a phone call from

God," inviting them to open their home and hearts as foster parents to several children. Those years of

travel, service, and discovery deeply enriched Joe's life and strengthened his appreciation for God's

vast and beautiful world.

After returning home from South Korea, Joe and Catherine settled in Bowie, Maryland, where they built

a life grounded in family, faith, and community. In retirement, their spirit of adventure continued as they

moved to Lake Monticello, Virginia, to a beloved home on the water. There, Joe delighted in welcoming

friends and family-hosting lively gatherings filled with water skiing, tubing, laughter, and long dinners

aboard his pontoon boat. In 2020, they began their final chapter together in Tucson, Arizona. Wherever

life took them, Joe remained deeply committed to his church community and to living out his faith

through service to others, sharing 61 years of marriage rooted in faith, love, and steadfast devotion.

Joe was an Eagle Scout, belonged to the American Legion, and over the course of almost 50 years,

served as a Knight of Columbus and had the honor of being a Grand Knight. Throughout his life, he

demonstrated charitable giving, leadership, fraternity, and a commitment to helping others in need. He

was known for his generosity of spirit, his willingness to lend a hand, and the quiet strength of a faith

and humility that he lived through action. Upon retirement, he continued to serve others, working as a

nursing assistant at a local hospital and providing private care to the elderly at Lake Monticello.

Above all, Joe was a fun-loving and devoted family man who cherished the family God entrusted to

him. He is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine Rose Briggs, and their four children and spouses:

Lorraine (Briggs) Murphy and her husband, Michael Murphy, of Warrenton, Virginia, Patrick Briggs and

his wife, Dori Salcido, of Alexandria, Virginia, Dennis Briggs and his wife, Barbara Southwood, of

Mountain Home, Arkansas, and Eileen Briggs-Pastorious and her husband, Joseph Pastorious, of

Tucson, Arizona. He was a loving grandfather to five grandchildren-McKenna, Liam, and Sean

Pastorious of Tucson, Arizona, and Josephine and Aidan Murphy of Warrenton, Virginia-each of

whom he held close in his heart and prayers.

Joe found joy in life's simple blessings. He never met a stranger, loved to dance, and enjoyed

gardening, football, softball, bowling, and traveling. He had a lifelong love for animals, sharing his life

over the years with a memorable assortment of pets-including dogs, cats, a chicken, and even a

squirrel-and he took special delight in keeping the desert birds well fed. He treasured time spent with

his family and delighted in showing films of family gatherings on his old projector-moments that

brought laughter, connection, and lasting memories. His warmth, kindness, and quiet strength left a

lasting impression on all who knew him.

Edward "Joe" Briggs will be remembered for his unwavering faith in God, his faithful service to his

country and community, and the love he shared so freely with his family and friends. As Scripture

reminds us, "Well done, good and faithful servant." His family finds comfort in the promise that he now

rests with his siblings in the peace of Christ and the hope of eternal life.

Friends and family are invited to attend services on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Santa Catalina

Catholic Church, Tucson, Arizona.

Service Schedule:

10:00 a.m. MST – Visitation

10:30 a.m. MST – Rosary

11:00 a.m. MST – Funeral Mass

Location:

Santa Catalina Catholic Church

14380 N. Oracle Road

Tucson, AZ 85739

The Rite of Committal with military honors will be held on April 3, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. MST at Arizona

Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Marana, 15950 N. Luckett Road, Marana, AZ 85653.