Jorge Raya Garnica

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My name is Jorge Raya Garnica; I was born to Ramona Raya Mojica and Antonio Garnica Aguiña at a home in Penjamillo, Michoacán, Mexico. 

The eldest of 16 children. 

My story if of faith, hope, and love. A wandering wanderer in this lifetime. 

Added with some pain, adventures and misadventures, success, humility, deliverance and how it all brought me closer to my God on this earth. Lessons learned and inspiring habits. 

 
Some would call me "the American Dream". 

Though my start was rough, the end of the story is beautiful and a testimony that dreams do come true on this earth and God's grace is sufficient.  

My native language is Spanish, then I learned English with my children and American TV. 

Bonanza was my favorite show, because the Cartwright family worked together to ensure the family always had a place to go and shared the spoils of the land.

As soon as I was old enough to contribute, my life started as a migrant worker child alongside those before me; uncles and aunts, cousins and friends. 

We worked from sun up to sun down with Sunday's off. 

In between seasons I would take care of goats because it gave me time to be alone in my thoughts.

Every morning the owner counted them so I returned at the end of the day with the same amount or more in case any gave birth. 

Plus I was tasked too by my mom to: "help take care of your siblings...and the goats"  

As a young boy, I was charged to be responsible; I would have to ensure no goats wandered off or got eaten by wolves. Though I was terrified of wolves and snakes, I still went after them; following the goats wherever they went to keep them together or I'd be in a lot of trouble and no money to bring home. Losing a goat was a big deal so I took my job very serious.

But I hated my job.

I hated that we were poor.

I hated that we struggled to survive. 

I hated that we had to move around all the time as my parents kept adding children and more mouths to feed. 

I hated my life. 

I hated that I couldn't go and play with the others as normal.

I hated that mountain. 

I wanted more out of life! 

Walking in the searing sun by day; staring at the stars at night, I had no one to explain things to me. Trying to believe in a God I didn't understand and struggled to believe in. 

Confused but hopeful; optimistic that a better life was out there for me and my family.

Birth control in the 50's & 60's was not normal. It was thought to be "God's will" if my mom got pregnant. 

I then started to hate and fear God because I couldn't stop working to better myself. 

Going to school was inconsistent because my value was more in working so I had to become self-taught. What gave me pleasure in life was knowing I was the responsible one.

Around 10 years old, we visited a home that had a television, there for the first time I saw the United States of America in a show about a dog named "Lassie". 

From then on I was convinced there had to be a better life for me and my family in the US as I learned more and more about the country and it's opportunity to have and do better.

For the next few years I worked in agriculture and took any job available many times forcing me to leave my family to work and send money back. I got to know a lot of Mexico; its immensity, culture, colors, foods, traditions and people.

I learned how to be and how not to be; both important teachers.
At 18 years old I was drafted into the Mexican Army in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico; a border town next to Arizona during the Vietnam era, they were preparing me to go to battle.
In the Army I learned about habits, structure, organization, time management, government and how to run...a lot. 

I was so eager to do well I won every contest they had.  

San Luis Rio Colorado brought me closer to my dream of crossing over.

War ended, as soon as I got the chance, I went to the United States to start my life over. Working in a carpentry shop as a young eager apprentice; immigration showed up, arrested us for illegally working and deported me back to Mexico.

Determined, I did not lose heart because of that passion yearning inside me still to live in the "land of opportunity" and all I wanted was a chance to help my family then raise my own children and watch them succeed.

My second attempt to cross over I made it to Phoenix, Arizona where I met my soon to be wife Bonifacia Chavez. 

She was beautiful, smart and funny. Loving and compassionate. Everyone loved her and so did I. 

She gave me five children: Jerry, Jorge Jr., Jason, Yesenia and Erica. These kids were my pride and joy! I gained legal residency in the U.S. that led into me becoming a U.S. Citizen; a feat I am most proud of because I was able to help my parents and siblings get their papers to legally live in the United States. 

Eventually I convinced my mom to move to San Luis Rio Colorado so I can bring my siblings over for the same opportunities. 

I worked for a lumber company during the day and at night I learned how to repair houses. 

One day someone handed me a set of blue prints, though I didn't know what all the words meant, it was easy for me to understand the build process.  Eventually I made my own blue prints (with the guide of a professional for stamp of approval) and built my first home. I fell in love with the process of designing and building I eventually completed almost 25 homes before I retired. 

  
I was so grateful to God that I vowed I would continue to work hard and take care of people as long as He kept providing.

In time I became a Supervisor at my job; in charge of ensuring the work got done right the first time. 

I was a perfectionist without knowing what that meant and my bosses appreciated that.
All I knew was to work and survive.

At that job, I met different building Contractors; they taught me and offered me side work. 

That's when and where I fell in love with actually building!
I learned all I could from every tradesmen I met; just enough to know what and who I needed to build a beautiful home, I realized then how easy it was to make a profit helping people repair or build their homes. Eventually building my own at 32nd Ave. & Washington Ave., Phoenix so my children could be right next to their school. They were my pride and joy. 

I wanted them educated, surrounded by Teachers and Students, Creators and Dreamers, people who doing good with their lives to make a difference and an impact in this world.

I never advertised my efforts. 

My motto was: "Let your work speak for itself." 

People always called me with work opportunities.
I loved being able to share and having the ability to help others in need.
I liked paying taxes as it was my contribution back to my community and country; plus it showed how much I made in one year. 

My children eventually grew up and took their own paths, I am proud of each of them. May they always be better than me and have more than I had.

May their children's children know that we have the ability to be the change we want in this lifetime.  

Upon retirement, I sold the properties and buildings I had so I could buy that mountain I sat upon as a young shepherd boy in Penjamillo, Michoacán, Mexico. 

I started to build my final home; I bought it so my family will always have a place to come home too. 

I loved sitting on top of that hill looking down at the land and its opportunities. 

There I got closer to my God. 

My life experience on this earth started November 6, 1951 and ended August 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona alongside my grandson Joshua Garnica and son Jorge Jr.

My son Jorge Jr. now holds a doctorate degree, has dual citizenship in USA and Mexico and now teaches all over the country. 

My heart is full of joy. My full circle. My American dream. 

I got to meet a lot of people, live, love and laugh. 

This was my story. My history.

Family list compiled September 1, 2021