Rafael Reyes Jr.

On April 25, 1940, Rafael Reyes Jr. was born in the village of San Nicolas de Ibarra, Jalisco, Mexico, to parents Refugio Orozco and Rafael Reyes. He was the youngest of six siblings in the Reyes family. His oldest sibling was a sister, Irene Reyes (deceased), brother Guillermo Reyes, sisters Julia Parra (deceased), Lydia Torres, and brother Ignacio Reyes. Starting at age five, Rafael began to accompany his father on horseback to gather cattle for the family’s butcher business, often leaving home from dawn until nightfall. By the age of ten, he was riding his own horse and learning to slaughter and butcher cattle for the family trade.

In 1960, Rafael made his way to San Francisco, where he had family who helped him find work. Starting out doing a variety of labor jobs, he learned many skills that would evolve into his abilities to take on all aspects of construction: Carpentry, tile setting, drywall, roofing, electrical, and a variety of flooring. He knew it all. He said he learned out of necessity. This was true, but it was evident throughout his life that he had a thirst for knowledge. If he were interested in it enough, he would tackle it.

Thanks to YouTube and his ability to stay current with technology, he could explore anything that piqued his interest. He loved construction work beyond necessity. He loved yard work and taking care of his garden and fruit trees. He lamented later in life that his body did not let him do the things he wished he could do. Never mind, he was still on a ladder pruning his fruit trees way longer than his wife and children were comfortable. He had an energy that put people half his age in shame and awe. Eventually, his various labor jobs would lead to the one that would be his trade until retirement. He became a cement mason. A cement finisher, to be exact. Chances are that if you have lived any significant amount of time in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, Fresno, and parts in between, you have walked on or have seen his work. Sidewalks, crosswalk ramps, walkways, stairs, and so much more. If you ever saw him work, it was evident he was an artist, the way he effortlessly worked the cement, smoothing it with beautiful, long sweeping strokes, working his trowel like a painter working their brush. He left his art behind on some of his jobs in the form of leaves imprinted on what would otherwise be familiar, stark grey cement. People took notice. He even received a letter telling him how such a detail on an ordinary part of their day made them smile. And if you ever see a penny imprinted in cement, check the year; that’s when he put it there.

He retired from the work he loved, but his body not so much, after 40 years as a proud union cement mason. After retirement, he could focus on his plants and garden, which he loved so much. He loved to share his plant and tree cuttings and the literal fruit of his labor. People would see his lemon and persimmon tree over the fence and ask for some fruit, even offering to pay. Rafael never took money and always made sure they left with more than they asked for. One of his proudest gardening moments happened just before he died. His mango tree gave him the most perfect mango he could have ever imagined he could grow in Fresno. His son Art cared for it as the fruit grew since Rafael was too weak to water and maneuver the yard. He was able to have a small taste days before he died. In retirement, he discovered a love for writing. He would write stories from his youth. His formal education took him to the fourth grade in Mexico. He never finished each grade since his dad would take him out of school to work. He left his insecurities about his lack of education behind to allow the stories to come to the page.

His storytelling was not affected by grammar and spelling errors because his words told the story just as well as if a college educated man wrote it. Genealogy became a great passion for Rafael in retirement. He would not only work on his own family tree but would also help others find their roots.

On the fateful night of the 21st of September in 1963, while living in San Francisco, a friend from San Nicolas was in desperate need of a ride to his sister's wedding in San Pedro. That night, Rafael fell in love with a beautiful woman, his “Bella Dama”. Rafael wrote that after getting enough courage to ask her to dance, he felt a sensation he had never felt before. That’s when, in his arms, he knew love had come into his life. Even though they grew up in the same village and the friend he gave the ride to was her brother, their paths never really crossed. Of course, there was the time Rafael, not knowing his prayers for his first holy communion, mumbled along and got a pass, but the girl who could not concentrate because of him would fail. She never forgot. But Catalina was too smitten to care that night. Rafael drove every weekend from San Francisco to Santa Maria in his Ford Fairlane until they were married on February 1, 1964. They started their life as husband and wife in San Francisco, where all three of their children were born. They moved to Fresno in 1977 to the home and beloved neighborhood where he would lose his brave battle with colon cancer 48 years later.

He is survived by his three children, Gerardo ( father of Elly and Estella), Art, Patricia, and her husband, Nathan. He is survived by his wife, Catalina, who gave Rafael’s life meaning. Rafael died at home, September 8th, 2025, in Fresno, with the love of his life by his side, his wife of over 61 years, his Bella Dama.