Felix Ocaranza

Felix Ocaranza passed away on Jan. 14, 2012 after a lifetime of family devotion. He was born in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico on July 10, 1922, but lived most of his life in California where he enjoyed a 52-year marriage to his beloved Carmen until her death in 1998. Felix and Carmen raised six children in Tulare. Surviving children are daughter Mary Burnett, and sons Alfred Ocaranza and his wife Linda; Alonzo Ocaranza and wife Vicki; David Ocaranza and wife Donna; Michael Ocaranza, and daughter-in-law of his late son Joe, Dana Ocaranza. Surviving grandchildren are Rodney Combs; Phillip Ocaranza and his wife Marcie; Donald Ocaranza; Jinger Gori and her husband Frankie; Timothy Ocaranza; Tony Ocaranza and Skye Ocaranza. Great grandchildren are Marcus, Felix and Karmen. In both work and leisure, Felix had many interests and talents. In his early adult life he worked as a ranch foreman, later assuming duties as supervisor for American Building Maintenance, a position he held for over 30 years. His love of nature and a talent for growing exotic plants bode well for him as the owner of a landscaping business in Tulare, an endeavor he established to supplement the family budget. His backyard in Tulare was filled with fruit and nut trees, an always abundant vegetable garden, topiaries and tropical plants he carefully cultivated. Felix moved to Turlock in 2005 to be closer to family. He lived independently and loved taking walks around California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, enjoying the beauty of the redwood trees and waterfalls on campus. He spent a lifetime camping both in the mountains and at the beach. He and Carmen spent many vacations visiting national parks and the California coast. When his kids were younger he took the family camping every summer to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Pismo Beach. However, he didn’t stop experiencing the great outdoors as he aged. Felix tent camped several times in the last few years with his sons at Kennedy Meadows, Pinecrest Lake, and Lake Don Pedro. He also hiked to the top of Vernal falls in Yosemite when he was 83! He was happiest when with his family and in nature. A lifelong learner, Felix loved reading National Geographic and Sunset magazines and watching the Discovery and History channel on television. He would read the morning newspaper front to back, keeping up with national and local events. Felix was a devout Catholic during his lifetime.

Tributes

Felix Ocaranza

July 10, 1922 - January 14, 2012