Felix Mercado "El Guero" Ramirez

Felix Mercado Ramirez

March 31, 1934 - December 1, 2025

Felix Mercado Ramirez was born on March 31, 1934, in Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, Mexico, oldest son of Juan Ramirez and Maria Isabel Mercado. In November 26,1960, he married Maria del Rosario Perez Reynoso, daughter of Valentin Reynoso and Soledad Perez, also from Jalostotitlán.

Felix and his new bride moved to the United States, settling in Sacramento, California, where he had already established a long work history. The newlyweds bought a home in the El Camino area of North Sacramento, where Felix, affectionately known as "El Guero" and Rosario, known as "Chayo," welcomed 6 children to their home: Felix Jr., Edgar, AnaLilia, Ricardo, Oscar, and Aldo.

However, the family bliss was short-lived as Felix's bride and our beloved mother, Chayo, died after a brief illness at the young age of 27, leaving behind a shocked and devastated family, that included a then 5 ½-month-old, Aldo, and 2 ½-year-old, Oscar.

Relying on friends and family who also emigrated from Jalisco, Mexico; Rogelia Duran became caretaker to Felix's young family and eventually, a strong bond was forged. The bond also extended to Felix and eventually, Felix and Rogelia married. Their union added Rogelia's 3 children, Alfonso, Arnoldo, Lelia Adriana, into the already large family.

In the years that followed, Felix, Rogelia, and the blended family (less Alfonso, who was already a young man and lived in Texas) moved to South Sacramento's Meadowview area, where El Guero bought a larger, new home for the large brood. In 1972, Felix and Rogelia (known as "Roge") welcomed baby Norma. The family continued to live in South Sacramento until the early 1990's, when Felix and Roge divorced. However, they maintained a strong relationship, especially in their later years, as they shared a large family that included a ton of grandchildren.

Felix had navigated an interesting, but familiar path for hard-working, law-abiding, motivated immigrants. Felix grew up extremely poor in Jalos, and with his 3 rd grade education, came to the United States in the late 1940's, taking whatever seasonal work would come his way. He held many jobs, mainly in the agricultural sector in Texas, Arizona, and eventually California, before finding his final call as a meat cutter at the Elk Grove Meat Company, where he retired in 1990.

However, that is where Felix's final act flourished. While being the head of household for the family of nine, he occasionally catered Mexican food for various people at a multitude of functions such as weddings, quinceañeras, and birthday celebrations.

As far back as the late 1960's, he had the privilege of cooking sporadically for non-Latino-based gatherings, such as fundraisers and other social functions that included then-Governor Ronald Reagan, raising funds for multiple Catholic churches in the Sacramento area, and other fundraisers for non-profits as well. He turned those experiences into owning and operating two restaurants: Jalos Place and Little Eddie's in Sacramento, while still maintaining a full-time job.

Word of mouth spread about his delicious carnitas, birria, barbacoa, and other Mexican staples to the point that when he retired, he was established as the go-to caterer for many families in the greater Sacramento area. He cooked out of his restaurants and finally upon retirement, out of his longtime home in South Sacramento. Not bad for a 3 rd grade education.

Felix, who had a hard time saying "no" to anyone, insisted on keeping prices affordable for "people like us" and it enabled the now single, empty nester, to keep busy in his later years. Having such a large and extended family enabled our dad to stay busy providing a great service to the community while "employing" (term used VERY loosely) his children, grandchildren, and family friends to help handle the load of events that kept him busy as a "retired" person. Our dad did not seem to understand what retired meant.

This pace kept him happy and content. He was always a social butterfly and never at a loss for words or stories. He loved entertaining anyone within earshot of his life's experiences and misadventures and was very fond of sharing jokes that would make a grown man blush. He was a character and he knew it as he thrived to entertain. Very close friends also know dad for his famous "Chata" and "Yuma" jokes.

Beyond El Guero, many of his immediate family members, especially his sons, affectionately gave him a few silly nicknames; Mr. Snacks, Wow-Guy, and BBQ, but the name he wore most proudly was bestowed upon him by his many grandchildren: Apa, followed closely by Dad and Papi.

In the end, Felix lived a long and happy life providing food, friendship, and entertainment to many, and we were all better for it. Sadly, in his final years, Dad's body and mind were ravaged by severe dementia, which eventually claimed his life on December 1, 2025.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Maria del Rosario Reynoso Ramirez, parents Juan and Isabel Ramirez, siblings Salvador, Jose, Maria de Guadalupe, and Maria del Rosario, and son, Arnoldo Plasencia.

Felix is survived by ex-wife Rogelia Duran, sons Alfonso Plasencia, Felix Ramirez, Jr., Edgar Ramirez, Ricardo Ramirez, Oscar Ramirez, and Aldo Ramirez. His surviving daughters include AnaLilia Fellines, Lelia Adriana Garcia, and Norma Ruiz.

In addition, Felix leaves behind 40+ grandchildren and a bevy of great-grandchildren.

I want to thank you all for making the trip to Sacramento to pay your respects to my dad and our family. We will now go to St. Mary Cemetery on 65 th street and lay my father to rest. Immediately following the burial, we will return to the hall next to the church for food and refreshments. All are welcome.