Raymond L. Travers

Raymond Luis Travers passed away peacefully at his home on January 22, 2015 in Carmel Valley, California. Ray was born in Watsonville, California on October 14, 1921 to Manual and Florence Travers. Ray's great grand-parents and parents were pioneering farm families in Watsonville. His mother's father settled in Monterey after the whaling ship he traveled on from the Azores docked there. His father's parents settled in Watsonville and homesteaded farmland. Although an only child, Ray had many cousins and family throughout the Pajaro Valley in Watsonville. When you were with Ray, you would always run into someone that knew Ray, and when you asked Ray who that was, he would invariably answer, "Oh, he's a cousin." Ray attended Watsonville High School, followed by attendance at St. Mary's College. He left college to fight in the Pacific during WWII as a Sergeant in the United States Army. After WWII ended, Ray continued farming apples in Watsonville. Ray developed and improved the processing and storage of apples in 1956 by introducing the first controlled-atmosphere cold storage in California. This was a sophisticated scientifically-based system that extended the storage life of Newtown Pippin apples by four to six months. Ray was an innovative grower who sought information on best practices and new techniques. He replaced standard-sized fruit trees with semi-dwarf trees which simplified pruning, thinning, and picking. During the polarized beginnings of the United Farm Workers Union, Ray was one of several farmers to sign contracts with the United Farm Workers. He also served on one of their first boards and was given a retirement party by Caesar Chavez that included apple pie. Ray was a pragmatist who recognized changing conditions in the global apple market, resulting in divestment of his farming properties in Watsonville and San Juan Bautista. Upon his retirement, Ray and Ursula moved to Carmel Valley, California. He was happily married to Ursula Travers until her death in 2009. Together they were active in the California Dressage Society. Ray encouraged her horseback-riding expertise and took pride in her ability to train dressage horses. Pioneering heritage played out through Ray's life in his can-do positive attitude and belief in hard work and self-determination. Ray always faced his experiences in a positive way. Ray was preceded in death by his son Manual. Ray is survived by his daughter, Marlena Hirsch and husband Barry, his son, Raymond F. Travers and wife Tori, grandchildren: Lily Hirsch (Austin), Martin Hirsch (Karen), Amanda Travers, Amber Travers, and 5 great grand-children. Visitation will be held at Mehl's Colonial Chapel on Monday, February 2, 2015 from 4-6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on February 3, 2015 at 1:00 PM at Valley Catholic Church located at 2401 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville, California. Burial will follow at Valley Catholic Cemetery. Mehl's Colonial Chapel has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.