Ignacio was born in 1938 in Jalisco, Mexico to Maria Montano and Cantarino Reyes. His father, Cantarino, was a member of one of the first Mariachis from Cocula Jalisco, named “Mariachi Reyes”. He grew up with three siblings named Vicente, Trini, and Esther. In 1959, at the age of 21, Nacho came to the United States with his brother, to work in the fields and repair cars. He worked throughout Northern Cali. and Bakersfield until 1962, until he met his wife Mary Resendez (Reyes) at the Granada Movie theatre, in Bakersfield. They eloped in April 1963 and they welcomed their four boys soon after. They were married for 48 years before she passed away.
Nacho always had a passion for working on cars. As a kid, he would go to the automotive shops, around Mexico, where he made friends that would teach him how to fix cars. Repairing cars was beyond a career for Nacho it was a hobby that he loved, that inspired him to establish his own shop called Reyes Arco Service; inside the Arco gas station at the corner of Mt. Vernon and California Ave. Overtime, his passion evolved into diesel mechanic work and he opened his own auto shop called Reyes Automotive off Edison Hwy where he specialized in diesel air conditioning.
Aside from his business, Nacho cherished his Mexican heritage, sharing stories of his culture and living authentically is what he did. He loved listening to his favorite Mariachis groups in town. You could always count on Nacho for some of the best advice and he loved sharing his wisdom. We will forever cherish his lectures too! Nacho enjoyed being at his favorite restaurants and stayed loyal to his regular bars at Mexicali, Bill Lees and KC Steakhouse, it was a tradition that he and Mary started together and they looked forward to every week.
Nacho proceeds to heaven to reunite with his beloved Mary, while he is survived by his four sons, Jaime Reyes and Diana, Rene & Tracy Reyes, Vince Reyes, Nachito Reyes and Melinda Gonzalez. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Adriana, Anthony, Lindsey, Heather, Kyle, Cole, Kaitlyn, Lauren, Joaquin, Alisha, Joey as well as his great-grandchildren Marilyn Salcido, Jailah, Brooklyn, Justice, Asher, Harper, and Antonio Casas III. He expressed gratitude to Dr. Jurich, Dr. Parimoo and to the entire team at Kaiser Permanente, Thank you! Family and Friends whose lives Nacho has touched are invited to join his services they are as follows:
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Viewing: 4:00PM- 8:00PM (Rosary begins at 6:00pm) at the Hillcrest Memorial 9101 Kern canyon Rd. Bakersfield 93306
Friday, May 10, 2024
Funeral Mass: 10:00AM- 11:00AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
1515 Baker Street Bakersfield
Graveside Service: 11:30AM
Celebration of life to follow !
