Abraham Gomez Reyes

Born In Durango Mexico Abraham Reyes had a profound effect on many people during his life. From seeing his family grow and prosper in the new country to his beautiful creations with wood.

Growing up as the first child of 10 he blazed a trail for the footsteps for his brothers and sisters by leaving Mexico for the frontier of the new country, America.

America was built from the hard work of many brave and fearless immigrants who bore the weight, pain and potential of making a new way for their families. Abraham Reyes is one of those whose broad shoulders & tireless pursuit of a new and better life many have been able to prosper from.

Abraham married Graciela in Southern California and they started their family. While he was growing his family he was also expanding his footprint as a master carpenter. Along with being a great husband, father & grandfather he was a mentor to many other up and coming carpenters in the area. Establishing a long tenure as a leader in the process. As time went on he would watch his family grow. Spending those years as a doting and loving father he would always find time for being with the kids even with his busy schedule.

Abraham is survived by his dear wife Graciela, 4 children (Darlene, Faride, Abraham JR & Carlos), grandchildren, great grandchildren & his sisters and brothers in many states. The footprint he helped forge extends way past his home town and country.

Among his pieces of work sitting now in many homes throughout the country and world are brilliantly and carefully constructed Shadow Boxes as well as various supremely tailored pieces of furniture. And finally during the last phase of his career a series of small Harps that are now making music in the hands of artists across the world. Abraham was a true artist in every meaning of the word. His work was in such demand he continued work after he formally retired.

An avid sports fan, Abraham became a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers when the family was in Los Angeles county and later a fan of the Angels after settling in Orange County in the early 1980’s. Many an afternoon and evening you could find him in front of the TV watching his Angels at work.

Abraham wasn’t just an example to immigrants in his new country but to all Americans. He led by the way he lived his life. Fluent in English & Spanish he was fair, always there to help others and always there with a word of encouragement to anyone who might need one. He lived the American dream and made it possible for many others to as well.

The legacy from his original dream of coming to America and bridging the old and new worlds will reverberate across our country for years to come and serve as an example to future generations as the standard that they would be judged by. For he was one of “those people” - “the people” who built pathways and roads from there to here and beyond so that future generations will benefit.