Rafael was born in Patzímaro de Aviña, Michoacán, Mexico. He came to the United States when he was 16 years old and made the North Gila Valley in Yuma his home. He worked in agriculture all his life, and retired from Bruce Church, Incorporated after 33 years with the company.
Rafael was a simple, hard-working man who loved his family and made friends easily. He enjoyed working outdoors, fishing, and planting and growing just about anything. He was especially proud of his beautiful sunflower gardens. He also loved dogs and often had two or three loyal four-legged friends that watched over him when he worked around the yard.
Rafael is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gloria Amezcua, 8 children—Victoria Rafaela Amezcua, Beatriz Amezcua, Edmundo Amezcua, Anna Bertha Amezcua, Victoria Pincomb (Michael), Rafael Amezcua, Jr., Baudelina Amezcua Cobb (Sean), and Guadalupe Collison (Matthew); 10 grandchildren—Hector Holliday, Victoria Kellner-Amezcua, Karla Carranza, Cassandra Carranza, Carlos Carranza, Justin Amezcua, Ashley Bronson, Jordan Amezcua Chavez, Aaron Pincomb, and Gabrielle Pincomb; and 13 great grandchildren—Israel, Seth, LeVante, Lucciano, Karly, Alex, Tony, Zion, Karmella, Ellis, Stella, Rylan and Emilia.
Rafael was "El Corazon de la Familia" and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So he put His arms around you
And whispered "Come to me."
With tearful eyes we watched you
As you slowly slipped away
And though we loved you dearly
We couldn't make you stay.
Your golden heart stopped beating
Your tired hands put to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Amezcua family.
