Morris Z. Ramirez

Morris Z. Ramirez, born January 15, 1930, in Cerros Blanco, San Luis Potosi, Mexico to parents, Eberirvo Zapata and Elionor Ramirez-Zapata, passed away Friday, March 23, 2018. He left behind his wife of almost 65 years, Alvina Ramirez, his children, Morris Jr., daughter in law Joy, Anthony, Daniel, Karla, son in law George and Joseph. He also left behind his grandchildren, Michelle, Vanessa, Janelle, Kayla, Joseph, and Javin and his great grandchildren, Chloe, Patrick, Charlotte and Zaylin.

Morris came to the United States at the age of 14 to make a better life for himself and his family left behind in Mexico. He made his way through different states taking work wherever he could find it. A self-taught man, he would never shy away from any hard labor. He would eventually settle into the Central Valley where he would live out his years working in the fields as a day laborer, eventually working up to Foreman. Morris had an amazing talent for taking care of any crop that grew in the Central Valley, from cotton to produce. He would be sought after by different farm owners to have him come and teach their workers the proper way of taking care of grapevines to get the most yield. Morris would continue to work in some capacity well into his 70’s.

Once settled into Kerman, CA, he would spend his little free time attending dances at the Portuguese Hall or the Rainbow Ball Room in Fresno. That is where he met Alvina Panduro. They would have a lavish wedding in September of 1953. Morris and Alvina would work side by side in the fields, putting away every extra penny they earned to save up to buy property. The goal, to provide land and a home for his family. This goal would take many years and much family involvement to be achieved but in 1968 the property at 1170 South Goldenrod would be purchased and in 1974 a house would be built.

As the Ramirez family grew so did Morris’ pride in what he was achieving in his life. Every child brought new adventures and hopes for the future. With Morris’ children growing up and marrying, grandchildren would soon follow. Granddaughters would be the first ones to arrive. Morris would take great joy in the arrival of all his grandchildren but with a secret hope of one of them eventually being a boy to carry on the Ramirez name. He would eventually get his grandsons and they would live in his home so he would have the most time spent with them before his passing.

Every Sunday would be spent at the house on Goldenrod where the family would come together for a meal and wait for the Bread Man to arrive with the sweet breads in his van. Grandpa always had a few dollars to slip the grandchildren so they could choose what they wanted. BBQ’s, birthdays, and holidays all spent at this house are fond memories that the family will hold dear.

Morris also had a love of horses, raising an Appaloosa Quarter Horse named Shannon that was his favorite to ride. He also raced Alvina’s Honor, a Quarter Horse that took 2nd place at Bay Meadows, a race track in the Bay Area. Another race horse he owned, Alvina’s Pride was never raced. With the time commitment taking him far from home he made the decision to stop racing. He would continue to help exercise other people’s racing horses so he could continue to do what he enjoyed.

Morris would develop a love for the game of cards. Nights spent at Reno’s playing cards was a happy time for him. The family would also benefit from a lucky night when they would be awakened by the smell of Chow Mein, the family’s favorite meal, the children would know he had hit it big. As he reached retirement age his time would be spent at Club One, waiting for a free table to open up so he could play Texas Hold ’em. Even if a table never opened Morris enjoyed his time there with his card buddies, just talking. Another favorite pass time was his love of gardening. Always a man to be outside he took pride in his large garden. Corn, chilis and tomatoes were his crops and he would tend to these daily. On the weekends he would go out and pick what was ready and send them home with his children and grandchildren. He spoke just a few days before his passing about his need to start planting his tomatoes but he had to wait for it to stop raining first. Unfortunately, that time never came and fresh garden produce will not get the chance to be planted.

No one was prepared to have him go so soon or so quickly. He was a strong man that seemed almost invincible which makes his passing so much harder to accept. The family all have their memories but would trade them all for just one more minute to say the things that went unsaid, to do the things that went undone. Morris Z. Ramirez, was peacefully welcomed into the arms of his parents and those friends and family that had passed before him in the early hours of Friday, March 23, 2018.