David John Amavisca

1948 - 2015

David John Amavisca died Saturday, March 7, 2015 after a hard fought battle with cancer. When the good Lord came for him, he was surrounded by the love and comfort of family and friends. He is survived by his three daughters, Amy Amavisca Tutell (Seth Tutell), Kelly Amavisca (Jeremy Thwing), and Danielle Opfenring Amavisca; two grandsons, Gavin Tutell and Trent Tutell; Loretta Amavisca; Kathy Opfenring; his siblings, Barbara Zimmerman, Millie Gonzalez, Marie Cooper, Frank Amavisca, and Cippy Correa; as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Born in Yuma on December 30, 1948 to a family of Arizona pioneers, John was the sixth child of Conrad "Colonel" Amavisca and Irene Olea Amavisca. He became many things in this life: a soldier, a traveler, a fruit tramp, a scholar, a teacher, and a mentor. But first, he was a cowboy. He grew up in Yuma and eastern Yuma County near Agua Caliente. Starting at the age of 4, John assisted his father in all aspects of cattle ranching.

John had a passion for knowledge and learning. From a one-room school house in Hyder, Arizona he went on to graduate from Yuma High School in 1966, then studied at Arizona Western College where he was President of the Rodeo Team. He later went on to study at the University of Arizona.

During the Vietnam War, John was drafted in to the U.S. Army and later enlisted in the Army National Guard where he spent six years serving his country. After being honorably discharged from the military, John traveled extensively. Along with his older brother Conrad, he worked with US Department of Agriculture to assist in the improvement of farming and livestock production methods throughout Eastern Europe (Russia, Georgia), Spain, Portugal, and Mexico.

John spent several years working in the produce industry throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. He is fondly remembered by his band of fruit tramp brothers. Though John left the produce industry several years ago, these men remained a big part of his life. John's family would like to thank all of them for the love and support they continue to show: Miguel Cabrera, Jimmy Cash, Donnie Howard, Rex Hurd, Randy Hurd, George Koenigs, Toby Long, the McDaniel brothers, Stanley Newcomb, Jimmy Pruitt, Richard Robinson, Ronnie Rojas, Tom Ryan, Ruben Sanchez, Jeff Sims, Ed Stone, Ray Sutton, Billy Walker, and many more from the crews at Skyview, Larson, Advance, and Pasquinelli.

John returned to his studies in the early 1990's and in 1997 earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Arizona. He went on to complete his Masters of Agricultural Education in May of 2002, demonstrating to us all the importance and value of finishing what we start.

After earning his Masters degree, John pursued a career in Education. He was a teacher at Cibola High School, where he was named Teacher of Year in 1999, and functioned as the FFA advisor from 1999 to 2007. He was named Teacher of the Year for the Yuma District for the 1999 to 2000 school year. While semi-retired he went on to teach at Harvest Preparatory Academy, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 2012. John took great pride and joy in working with his students and helping to shape their lives; he was both friend and mentor.

John is reunited in Heaven with friends and family including his parents, Colonel and Irene; his brothers, Conrad "Junior" and Joseph "Pee Wee"; and his many ancestors who braved the desert and raised cattle along the Gila River for generations.

A wake will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Desert Valley Mortuary, 138 N. Avenue B, Somerton from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 16, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1815 S. 8th Ave, Yuma, with a graveside service immediately following at Desert Lawn, 1415 S. First Ave, Yuma. Pallbearers: Dean Amavisca, Tom Amavisca, Rob Gonzales, Dan Walker, Todd Wells, Andy Zimmerman. Honorary pallbearers: Frank Amavisca, Cippy Correa, Rusty Drumn, Dan Gann, Bobby Gonzales, Fernando Heredia, Frank Olea, Seth Tutell.
In honor of John, donations can be made to Cibola High School FFA or the local American Cancer Society.

John will be remembered by all who knew him as someone larger than life. He could make us laugh until we cried; the world is a little tamer and a lot quieter without him.

"Kinda broad at the shoulder, narrow at the hip…and everybody knew you didn't give no lip to Big John."

Please sign the guestbook at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun.