Carlos Gaspar Meraz

1962 - 2018

Carlos Gaspar Meraz passed away on February 23, 2018 at his Yuma home.

Carlos was born in San Luis, Rio Colorado, Sonora on May 9, 1962 to Augstin Manriquez Meraz and Maria Guadalupe Gaspar. In April 1969 he and his family moved to the United States and briefly lived in Somerton, Arizona. Later that year the family moved to Gadsden, Arizona, where he grew up. He attended Gadsden Elementary School and graduated from Kofa High School in 1980. He also attended Arizona Western College.

In the mid 1980's he started his career in the food service industry. He first worked at Carrow's Restaurant quickly working his way up from dishwasher to kitchen manager. Over the years he worked as a manager at several restaurants in Yuma, including Cracker Barrel, Applebee's, Famous Dave's, and finally Buffalo Wild Wings.

Carlos was a kind, thoughtful, and generous man. Despite his sometimes-serious demeanor, he had a irreverent sense of humor and a heart of gold. He was always willing to help anyone who asked and had a gift for finding the right words to comfort the people around him in difficult times. Even though he suffered many setbacks in his life, he always faced adversity with optimism, courage, and faith.

Though he suffered a debilitating heart attack, he continued working full time and devoted his spare time to his family. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and his son Ismael, his pride and joy. He loved cooking for family events and his tamales were much requested. He regularly showed up to visit with menudo, pozole, or tamales for no special reason, other then he felt like cooking.

Carlos was preceded in death by his parents, Agustin and Maria Guadalupe Meraz, his maternal grandmother Domitila Payan, and his granddaughters Autumn and Menora Rios.

He is survived by his daughters Monica Garcia and Rose Nicole (Jesse) Gutierrez, his grandchildren, John Ramon, Ava Morales, and Cambria Gutierrez, step-sons Azael Almaguer, Samuel and Ismael Reyes, and their mother Jessica Almaguer, sisters Margarita Meraz, and Carmen (Chris) Duran, brother Agustin Meraz, and nephew, Damon Meraz.

There will be a viewing at Desert Valley Mortuary in Somerton, Arizona on Thursday, March 1, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with religious services at 7:00pm, officiated by Pastor Joe Avila. Burial will be on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 9:00am at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Yuma, Arizona.