Jesus Cuevas Macias was a man who valued farming, friends and most importantly family. He was born on May 7, 1952 to parents, Herlinda Macias and Jesus Cuevas in Jocotepec Jalisco, Mexico, the 6th of seven children. Following a difficult early childhood, being raised by his loving older sister, Francisca (Chica), Jesus and most of his siblings made his way to the U.S. to join his mother and find work to support the family.
It was here in the valley that Jesus met, courted and married the “love of his life”, Blanca Garcia. They married in 1970 and together raised four children, Jesus Jr, Santino, Christopher and Prisma. Jesus and Blanca’s early years were rich in love and small in money and possessions, but Jesus sought to give his family a wonderful and meaningful life. He had dreams of becoming a doctor as a young boy and his intelligence carried him far in life. He began working at S&W Seed Company. He made a career as a ranch manager at Five Star Ranch and Terra Linda Farms working for the Coehlo family. During this time, Jesus devoted his little spare time to his children, attending football, basketball and baseball games for his boys and seeing Prisma excel in volleyball and softball. He supported his children and everyone in the community by serving as a leader of the Five Points Lions Club and as an officer for the Westside Elementary school board where his children attended and his wife worked. Family trips to Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, to take in baseball, football and soccer games, to spots all over the valley and the coast were enjoyed by all and often included Jesus’ mom, sisters, brothers and their families. Everyone and all were welcomed to join in. During his later years, Jesus worked for Ed Donaghy and finally Wolfe Farms in Huron before retiring in 2016. He loved and respected everyone he worked for. He considered everyone he worked for and with to be family.
Jesus worked hard at his craft and was so well respected in the farming community. Growers and processors knew if a tomato came from a Jesus Cuevas field. He made lifelong friends wherever he worked. People always wanted to talk to or hear from “Chuy”, “Compa” or “Goose”. However, nothing was more valuable to him than the life he created with Blanca. He said nothing he ever did was better than the four children he raised and the grandchildren they gave him. He loved attending the grandkids games and performances, crying and cheering at each one of them. Cookouts and parties were plenty. He taught the grandkids that although there were other sports teams around, none were better than the LA Dodgers, the LA Rams, the Chivas of Guadalajara, and the LA Lakers.
Jesus was a strong and tough man with the biggest heart around. He fought lymphoma three times and survived a stroke, all the while taking pride in his children’s lives and grandkids activities. His later years were, enjoying time with his true love, Blanca, whether it was a movie and a quiet dinner or family trips to Mexico and Hawaii.
Jesus is survived by his wife of 52 years, Blanca, his sons and daughter, Jesus Jr, Santino, Christopher
and Prisma, daughters-in-law and son-in-law, Anita, Andrea, Lisa and Carlos, 10 grandchildren, Benjamin,
Michael, Sebastian, Anjali, Yushua, Alexia, Tino Jr, Avery, Emelia, and baby Elena Nicole. He is also survived by his loving sister, Francisca (Chica), many nieces and nephews and preceded in death by his parents, Jesus and Herlinda, and siblings, Ignacio, Jaime, Estela, Alicia, and Maria.
A funeral service for Jesus will be held Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 10:00 AM at La Vina Covenant Church, 15495 W. Whitesbridge Ave., Kerman, CA 93640. Interment will follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stephensandbean.com for the Cuevas family.
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