Ramon 'Ray' 'Papa' Abeyta Garcia was born premature, in a convent, August 13, 1930 in Abeytas, N.M., and died March 22, 2006 in Barstow. His parents were Filiberto Greigo Garcia and Maria Josepha Abeyta. He was raised near the Rio Grande River in New Mexico in the Abeytas and Belen areas until he was 15 years old. Ramon fondly reminisced about life as a child on his Tata's, (his Grandfather Secondino Abeyta), cattle ranch Ñ Rancho de Abajo, across the Rio Puerco River, southwest of Abeytas. He was very close to his aunts, especially his Tia Acenita, with whom he spent lots of his youth. When Ramon was 10 or 12, his Tata was severely hurt in an accident with a team and wagon and lost both legs. When the beloved ranch was sold about 3 years later, Ramon's life changed forever.Ramon entered the Army and was stationed in Italy during the later stages of World War II and returned to the states in 1946. Upon his return to New Mexico, he worked as a baker and attended refrigeration mechanic school in Albuquerque. He made his way to Barstow in 1947, went to work at the Marine Base, and stayed in the High Desert for the rest of his life. In his 31-year career at the Marine Base, he worked as a painter, a refrigeration mechanic and a scheduler for the repair division. Ray could fix or build anything and everything and he built several adobe hornos when he was in his 50s with no more than a memory of when he was 10 years old. He married his cherished sweetheart Lucille Richardson on Dec. 22, 1951. They were married for 54 years when she passed away last September, just 6 months ago. A devout family man, Ray loved and supported all of his children and their families, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Cursillos. He is survived by his eight children and their families, RoseMarie and Ward Burroughs of Denair, Daniel and Nancy Garcia of Santa Rosa, Consuelo Garcia of Barstow, Raymond Garcia of Barstow, Richard and Bev Garcia of Barstow, Acenita and Mike Royce of Barstow, Theresa and Manuel Pino of Barstow, Michaele and Kai Hammel of Midway, Ga.; sister, Ida and Amorante Carabajal of Los Lunas, N.M.; brothers, Celestino and Ann Garcia of Los Lunas, N.M., and Ellerd and Josephine Garcia of Albuquerque, N.M.; 24 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren RamonÕs family honors his life by celebrating a Rosary on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 7 p.m. at the family home, 28599 Hwy. 58, 3/4 miles west of Irwin Road. A Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 31, 2006 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 555 Mountain View. Please join the family for a reception at St. Joseph's Noonan Hall after Mass. Remembrances may be made to: Martha's Meals, Desert Manna
Daily Press
Wednesday, March 29, 2006