Raymond Gonzales

Raymond "Butch" Gonzales passed away on December 21, 2020 at the age of 63 following an intense 17 day fight with Covid-19.  "Butch" as he was known by his friends, family and loved ones was born in Tracy, Calif., June 9, 1956 to Raymond (Pechi) & Sara Gonzales.  He attended Tracy High School where he excelled in athletics, Future Farmers of America (FFA) and expanded his never ending circle of friends graduating in 1975.  Immediately following graduation he went to work for Safeway as a Butcher where he honed his skills learned from Tracy High Agriculture department and a generation of family butcher mentors.  His career started at the Safeway plant in Stockton where he met many lifelong friends and the mother of his children.  After 13 years working for Safeway Butch made the leap in 1988 to work for Holt Brothers in Stockton.  He had many positions with the company over the 21 years and retired in 2009 as a Boom Truck Operator working in the foothills and throughout San Joaquin & Calaveras counties.  After retirement he traveled on hunting & fishing trips with cousins & friends. Exploring Montana, Idaho & Alaska where he treasured annual adventures.  He happily past down his love of these experiences with his grandchildren teaching them to fish and hunt. He contributed to the community along with his grandkids through volunteer work with the Ducks Unlimited Junior program among other non-profit organizations over the years.  
Butch had a great love for his family and was always available to lend a helping hand.  He was an active outdoorsman with a passion for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, gardening and cheering on his favorite football team the 49ers.  He was a big kid at heart and nothing brought him more joy than to share his love of nature with his kids, family members and his diverse circle of friends.  He will be remembered most not for his achievements but for the way he lived his life.  He was a big hearted, hardworking, barbeque master, very proud Dad and Big Papa.  He loved, worked, laughed, played, and prayed every single day like it was his last.  Blessed with kindness, a giving nature, an endless drive to always be helping others, Butch placed each person that came into contact with him feeling that they were the most important person at that moment in time.   
He is survived by his three daughters, Danielle Coria (Ricardo), Alicia Gonzales (Santos), Sara Gonzales, his ex-wife Starr George-Gonzales, their blended children Charley, Shauna, & Joey, his six grandchildren: Ariana, Ariel, Santos, Xavi, Olivia & Camila.  He is also survived by his mother Sara (Plasencia) Gonzales, two sisters, Cathy Palomino, Nancy Heer, brother-in-law Paul, numerous cousins, two aunts, an uncle and their families.  We will miss you immensely Butch, may you rest in peace with your Dad in Heaven waiting to greet you.
A private service will be held at Fry Memorial Chapel in the coming days in Tracy CA. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of life & mass will be held at a future time in June 2021.  Memorial contributions may be made to Tracy High School FFA or Athletics department.

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