Raymond Michael Gerawan

Raymond Michael Gerawan was born on November 29th, 1933, and passed away peacefully at his home on June 13th, 2022. He was 88.
Ray's parents, Michael Gerawan and Emaline Mittry, immigrated from Lebanon in the early 1920's and later met and married in Oakland, CA in 1930, welcoming first Emile, then Ray. Michael worked with Mittry Brothers Construction, who then traveled to Miramonte to build Highways 180 and 198 for 5 miles in each direction from the Y. The next job was in Los Angeles and then to Oklahoma when Ray was 6. The Gerawans left construction for farming when Ray was 10 and settled on 40 acres on the corner of Alta and Lincoln. The boys went to Wahtoke school and Reedley High School.
Ray dug into work at a very early age to help support the family. He was known for asking a lot of questions as he worked for different farmers doing any and every job there was. He bought his first 40 acres, "Ranch 2" on Alta Ave. near American, by farming the land and working other jobs to pay it off.
In 1956 Ray met Star Phillips, a Physics student at UCSF. Ray convinced her to leave it all behind and they were married later that year. They lived in the house on Ranch 2 that Ray and 2 of his friends built and added 4 kids to it - Lore, Mike, Danny and Matt.
Ray's first packing shed was behind the house where he worked with his first employee, Abundio Islas and in time, Horacio Allaman from down the street. He later partnered with Herb and Leon Kaprielian to form Rancher's Fruit Company with a small shed in Reedley on "I" Street. They went on to build the Packing plant and Cold Storage on Dinuba Ave across from the DMV, Plant 1. Ray and Herb later went different directions and Ray began R. M. Gerawan Co. which continued to grow and prosper working with Ed Johnson, Mario Navarro and so many others. He partnered with Randy DeLeon in Central Labor Company, Marvin Gerdts in Western Ag and others as well as farming in Maricopa, Yuma, Mexico, and Chili. He also learned to fly (in a twin engine) and developed a charter company with Leonard Hall, flying a Barron, King Air, and Lear Jet himself. In '79 the new cold storage and pack line, Plant 2, was built at Dinuba and Buttonwillow Aves. His sons joined him, Mike in the fields and Dan in the plants. With a workforce second to none, Gerawan Farming went on to be the largest and highest quality Grower, Packer and Shipper of Peaches, Plums, Nectarines and Table Grapes in the industry. The company was sold in 2019.
While growing that company over those 70 years, Ray made lots of time to spend with his family going up to the mountains, fishing at the river and the dam, BBQ'ing at Avocado Lake, Dove hunting with the boys and watching Johnny Unitas lead the Colts. They made many trips to San Francisco to see Star's mom who lived across the street from Luca's Deli, which he and the kids made a B-line for as soon as they parked. His mother and brother came to the house every Sunday to watch Wild Kingdom and Disney with the kids. A great many meals were enjoyed with Sity's Lebanese cooking and Ray was a pretty good cook himself. Throughout life, Ray's main concern was the well-being of his family, including the grandkids, Annie, Lily and Katie Gerawan and Frances and Elias Callahan and their brother, Michael Callahan.
Ray spent many hours at coffee shops, Clingan's Junction, The Squaw Valley Restaurant and Main Street Café among them with his cousin, Richard Mittry and a great many friends over the years. He stopped into country stores to see others and at some, stay up on his Arabic which he spoke as a kid. As many know, the list is Long of people he talked with out in the fields. He had a good life in a good place with so many good people.
A small private service was held on June 20th with his good friend, Father Robert Brocato officiating. Ray did not want a large gathering held and those who knew him would expect that.
We invite Remembrances to be shared here. Thank you all.