Tony Peter Ayres

(1923 – 2023)

Tony P. Ayres, a resident of Pacific Grove since 1942, passed away in serenity and peace on 19 July 2023 at the age 99. Three months shy of being a centennial.

Our Dad lived through the Great Depression, two world wars, space flight, the birth of the Internet, 9-11, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a remarkable, caring soul as a friend, uncle and mostly as our Dad.

Tony, the youngest of eight, was raised on his Portuguese family’s dairy farm in Riverdale, California. After graduating from Riverdale High School, he attended California Poly Technical State University, (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, majoring in dairy science.

During this time, World War II was at its peak, and on November 22, 1943, Tony enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the 6th Infantry Division, 20th Infantry Company F as a Private First Class. He was involved in two campaigns, in the jungles of New Guinea for 9 months and as a scout during the battle of Sansapor. Later during the war, he was in the invasion of the island of Luzon, Philippines, where he was wounded. He was awarded three Bronze Stars for his brave actions as a scout and two Purple Heart medals after being shot in both legs. He was a charter member of General Joseph W. Stillwell, Chapter #85 Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Order of the Purple Heart.

Once discharged from the army in 1945, he married Marjorie, the love of his life, and went to work at Holman’s Department Store in Pacific Grove for 17 years, and then as an appraiser with the County of Monterey, until he retired after 24 years of service.

After he and Marjorie had raised we three children to adulthood, Tony returned to study, attending Monterey Peninsula College, and received a degree in Sociology. He used this knowledge to help others as a volunteer in organizations within the Monterey Peninsula. Dad always was ready with an attentive ear.

Volunteering with the Suicide Prevention Center, he became president and also trained other volunteers, receiving the Community Service Award. He used his education and long experience in diverse areas of community service: on the M1 Program at Soledad Prison; at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History on the Board of Directors; as President of the Men’s Garden Club; as public relations board member of Our Lady of Fatima Society; 20 years with St. Angela’s Church I-HELP program (for the homeless); and as honorary board member of the F.D.E.S. of Monterey. He joined several groups to pursue his interests: 20 years with the Monterey Bay Aquarium as an emeritus volunteer, an emeritus of the Pacheco Club, member of Monterey Bonsai Club, the Pacific Grove Heritage Society and Friends of the Monarchs, to name a few.

Tony also loved gardening, maintaining a bonsai collection, and property investments. Dad’s biggest investment was the human family – “building a little community of those you love and who love you” is one of his favorite quotes.

Tony was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Ayres, and son, Ramon. He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law: Rosann and Bill Lopes (Grayland, Washington), Laurie and Roger Snaith (Sydney, Australia), and step-grandson Dr. Ryan Snaith, his wife, Verity, and great-grandchildren, Henry Snaith and Vivian Snaith (Sydney, Australia).

We would like to give special thanks to Firuza Khaytenova, owner and operator of Reach Out Home Health Care, for her and her team’s caring attention to Dad during his last couple of years. They provided compassion and thoughtfulness that inspired us all.

Tony and Marjorie established an endowment managed by the Community Foundation for the Monterey County. The Community Foundation generates revenues perpetually for many different Monterey Bay area organizations. Memorial donations may be made to the foundation, or to the donor’s choice, in lieu of flowers. https://www.cfmco.org/

Mass of Christian Burial will be at St Angela Merici Church, Pacific Grove at 12:30 on Thursday, July 27, open to the public.

The love, knowledge and stories that he shared have made us who we are today.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7