1922 to 2013
Simon Raygoza Escobedo, de la Mora, Jalisco
November 26th 2013. 2:20 p.m., the day and time he died.
I arrived at the Villa early morning on the day of his death.
Who was dad to me? He was the man who provided for my basic
needs such as a home, clothes, and food. He also provided some comic relief and
affection in his own way.
He was good person who lived his life in the best way he knew. I
learned lots of good things from him like: spirituality, optimism, appreciation
for simple things, and a solid work ethic.
He made a significant impact in many peoples lives. His life
began and ended in his hometown of Villa Guerrero. Dad lost both of his parents
by the young age of five. His mother died at his birth and his father died in
the revolucion de Los cristianos. His early life involved horses, burros,
ranchos, and plenty of hard work of farming and ranching. As a young man he was
an entrepreneur, buying eggs, poultry, livestock, and other sundry essentials
and selling these items throughout Villa Guerrero. He lived in a time when a
man’s word was his worth and he was known as a man of his word.
During World War II when Americans sent their men to war and their
women filled the jobs once occupied by men, my father responded to their call
for Mexican labor. He worked on ranches in North Dakota and Nebraska. Once
again, Dad exercised his entrepreneurial skills when the "No
Mexicans" policy of local American business owners, created a demand for
ready made food, he sharpened his cooking and barber shop skills, making and
supplying tortillas, burritos, and offering hair cuts to his coworkers in the
work camps on his day off.
Eventually dad moved all of the family to California and settled
into a long-term job as a laborer for a construction company where he was took
pride in his work and was paid enough to support our large family. As a child I
knew the man who treated friends with great courtesy, kindness, and generosity.
I knew him as a devout catholic, always attending church, praying a daily
rosary and participating in many church prayer meetings and functions.
Throughout his lifetime he went above and beyond helping others
in their time of need. Many loved and respected him with the affection
generally held for ones own father. For some he provided critical support at a
time when their own fathers could not or would not. Even in his last two years
of life he managed to give his caregiver the acknowledgement and affection she
never received from her own father.
My father had a quick wit and was never at a loss for words. He
used humor to complement and to evade. He was forever the optimist and in his
old age freely expressed his emotions.
I appreciate all that he did for me and our family. He worked
hard for us, tried to teach us tough life lessons, and along the way managed to
teach us many valuable things.
Simon Raygoza Escobedo lived a full life. He spent much
for his final years praying and singing. There is a Native American saying which asks "Is today a good day to die."
Meaning: are you living your life wholeheartedly, fully and without regret? Dad
would have said yes! Even as a forty/fifty something he always said "when
it's my time God will take me and not a minute before." He would not fear
the risk of things like flying or illness, completely confident in his devotion
and belief in Gods ultimate wisdom. As we gathered around his bed at home in
the Villa he took his final breaths, surrounded by his family praying,
touching, appreciating, grieving and loving him in his final moments of life.
He made a significant impact on many people, especially on his children.
I love you my father, Thank you for everything. I know it all worked
out exactly as it was meant to be.
