Louis Jacinto Aja

Louie Aja, 83, passed away peacefully in the evening. He was born in Merced Falls to Jose and Eugenia Aja, the 7th of 9 children. The family moved to Livingston in 1942, where Louie graduated from Livingston High School in 1950. He was a life-long resident of Merced County. Louie served in the U.S. Navy for 4 years, and on Feb. 14, 1955, he met the love of his life, Jeanette Ruth Rocha. They were married July 1, 1955. After working with his brother for 16 years in the dry cleaning business, he went to work for Procter & Gamble in Modesto, where he retired after 25 years. P&G made Pamper diapers, but if you asked Louie what type of work he did, he’d say he made “seat covers.” Quiet, shy and unassuming, Louie had a great sense of humor and many friends. After retirement he and Jeanette spent time traveling in their motorhome. When they’d had enough of that, they fell in love with Kennedy Meadows, spending 15 seasons there. Louie had his own horse for many years and he loved working around the horses at the pack station. He so enjoyed his life at Kennedy, and especially his relationship with Matt Bloom. He was a life member of the American Legion and a 50-year member and twice past president of the Turlock Horsemen’s Club. Louie is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jeanette Rocha Aja, children Kathleen Roche (Tyler), Randy Aja and Tony Aja, grandchildren Tauna, Amy and Aaron Aja and Bailee and Madeline Roche, and great-granddaughter Alice Aja. He also leaves sisters Anita Groth and Margaret Hogg and 21 nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Josephine Ryan and Mary Thomson and brothers Andrew, Julian, Diego and Joe Aja. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Mon., May 2, at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock. The family would like to thank the wonderful caring people at Grace Nursing Home in Livingston for the compassionate care given to Louie in his final days. Memorials may be made to Livingston Historical Museum, P.O. Box 104, Livingston, CA 95334, or Turlock Historical Society, P.O. Box 18, Turlock, CA 95381.

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Louis Jacinto Aja

July 24, 1932 - April 22, 2016