Robert Esquer Gortarez Sr.

Robert Esquer Gortarez Sr was called home in the morning hours of Saturday, December 23, 2023. He came into this life July 15, 1940, in Phoenix, Arizona as Esequiel Esquer Gortarez to the couple, Evaristo and Luz Gortarez. Robert was the 5th child to the couple. At the age of 10 months, his mother passed away. Esequiel's father remarried, and his 2nd wife passed away shortly thereafter. Evaristo remarried once again to Anita Larez and with her 3 children a new family was born. New siblings came along over the years which created this large family of 15 children and 2 parents. When Esequiel started going to school, he ran into a problem which was his teacher not being able to pronounce his name. His older brother Ernesto, (Ernie) walked him to his first day of class and told the teacher just to call him Bobby and from there on, Bobby became his new name. For many years, he went by Bobby. In 1957 Bobby entered the Army and spent most of his service in Germany. He was stationed in Nuremberg to guard East Germany from West Germany. In 1961 Bobby was a patient at Phoenix Memorial Hospital from an injury he sustained from a crane falling on him at Phoenix Brickyard. His nurse, Sally Miranda introduced him to her daughter, Tenchi who would wait at her mom's work to catch a bus to cosmetology school. He married Hortensia (Tenchi) Miranda on April 1st, 1962. Shortly after marrying, the new couple moved to San Pedro, California. In 1968, a son Robert Esquer Gortarez Jr. was born which inspired Robert Sr. to return to school to obtain his diploma. He graduated from San Pedro High School in 1968 then went to Harbor College to study horticulture. In 1973, a second child was born, Gilbert Miranda Gortarez. Robert worked for Reynolds Metals Corporation where he helped many of his siblings and other relatives get jobs. In 1977, Robert decided to move his family to Arizona and settled in Tempe. Robert started his own company immediately upon moving to Tempe, Valle Del Sol Landscaping and Gardening (Railroad ties a specialty). His wife, Tenchi ran the office and raised their two sons.
When the recession hit, Bob took on a 2nd job, in addition to his business, to support his family working for the Federal Government as a soil and erosion conservation specialist for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District. He spent many a day flying over, via helicopter, the Central Arizona Project canal throughout Arizona inspecting for erosion and other damage. Bob retired in 2010. Bob and Tenchi moved to Temple, Texas after his sons Gilbert and Robert had relocated there. Bob loved gardening, restoring a Chevy Silverado truck, watching boxing, basketball and football. He loved to play poker and Texas hold 'em.
Bob never met a stranger, always willing to talk to people and always willing to help someone in need. A road trip was never just a road trip with Bob, as he might have to stop a few times to help someone change a tire or get their broken-down vehicle going again. For Bob, there was never such a thing as not enough room to house family and friends that were visiting or needing a place to stay.
Bob leaves to cherish his memory, wife Hortensia (Tenchi), sons; Robert E. Gortarez of Temple, Texas, Gilbert M. Gortarez (wife, June) of Franklin, Tennessee, Sister Yolanda Gortarez (Phx., AZ), Minerva Gortarez (Phx.., AZ) Erlinda (Linda) Gortarez, (Soledad, CA) Gloria Grisetti (Soledad, CA),, brothers; Jesus (Jesse) Gortarez (Phx, AZ), Cornelio (Corny) Gortarez (Soledad, CA), Gabriel Gortarez (Portland, OR), Grandchildren, Angelica M. Gortarez, Christopher I. Gortarez, Gilbert Z. Gortarez, Brandon R. Gortarez, Mia C. Gortarez, Gabriel M. Gortarez, James A. Gortarez and 2 great grandsons, Javier and Noah Bustos. We can't leave out Freddy, Bob's Yorkshire terrier who jumped up on his hospital bed every morning to greet him. He is preceded in death by his parents; Evaristo, Luz and Annie, sister; Hope G. Hernandez, brothers; Manuel M. Gortarez, Frank Gortarez Evaristo Gortarez, Raul Cordova, Rudy Cordova, Ernesto Gortarez, Richard Cordova, Frank Gortarez, Arnulfo Hernandez and Michael Gortarez.
The funeral service will be Friday, January 5th, 2024, at Hansen's Desert Hills Chapel, 6500 E. Bell Rd., Scottsdale, AZ at 9:00 a.m. with visitation 1 hour prior. Interment will be at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Visit hansenmortuary.com for online condolences. Arrangements entrusted to Carnes Funeral Home, Texas City, TX and Hansen Desert Hills Chapel, Scottsdale, AZ.