Ramon Sanchez

Ramon, also known as "Ray", was born on July 30, 1956, in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico to Alicia Sanchez and Narciso Cruz. He joined the United States Army in 1978 and he proudly served his country until 1984, when he was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant Sanchez in Reedley, California. Ray moved to Douglas, Arizona where he married the love of his life Grace, which lasted for 34 years, until his passing. The loving couple was blessed with one daughter, Melissa. The family relocated to the Gila Valley where Ray started his new career in mining. He worked for Phelps Dodge and Freeport-Mcmoran for twenty-three years. Ray was an easy-going guy who never sugar-coated anything and never missed a target on a good joke with anyone. He was quite the funny guy and loved laughing and living life. Family was everything to Ray and Grace, and they enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Their daughter Melissa and her husband, Luis Sr., blessed them with two amazing Grandsons. Ray loved, cherished, and happily embraced making as many memories with his Grandsons, Julian and Luis Jr. as he could. They would gather around the warm and cozy bomb fires, grilling and listening to his favorite Mexican corridos or crusin oldies. Despite how Ramon felt physically from his dialysis coming home tired and drained, he always made time to check up on family and friends whether they were sick or not because that's the type of loving person he was. Ray had a loving passion for working on cars and taking his Grandsons to hot rod car shows, however, old school muscle cars were his weakness. In his teenage years, he had a 1955 Chevy Bel Air which he regretted selling. He finally replaced the Be Air with a 1971 Buick Riviera. His family will be restoring it and putting it back on the road in Ray's honor. Ray is survived by his beautiful wife Grace, his daughter Melissa (Luis Sr.) La Madrid and his two Grandsons: Julian and Luis Jr. Arrangements are being cared for by McDougal's Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory located at 112 E. Main St. Safford, AZ 85546, 928-428-1740, www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.