Pedro López Ortiz

Our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, loving husband, and a loyal parishioner of St. Mary’s of the Angels Catholic Church was called to be with our Heavenly Father. In the early morning of Friday, April 26, 2024, accompanied by his loving family.

Pedro was the eldest son of seven children born to Antonio López Hurtado and Francisca Ortiz Soriano de López. He was born on June 1, 1932, in Los Haro, Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico. Soon after his birth, his parents, and other families primarily from Los Haro branched towards Fresnillo and established La Colonia Modelo, more commonly known as el rancho “La Leona”.  

It was in La Leona that he developed as a hardworking, honest, humble yet proud man with a spiritual foundation, always participating in church events and the annual celebrations on December 12^th, El Día de la Santa Virgen de Guadalupe.  He participated as a danzante, banda de guerra, and later Morisma. Pedro also participated in the local rodeos, “coleando.” The other passion he inherited as a youth from his father and passed on to his family was the love of baseball. 

It was also in La Leona where Pedro met and married the love of his life, Mercedes Saldivar De Haro, they wed on April 28, 1951.   Pedro died two days before they would have celebrated 73 years of marriage.  They loved and looked out for each other.  They had 9 children, sadly the first three, Teodoro, Evelia and Carmela did not survive. He is survived by his wife, Mercedes Saldivar de López; six children, Ana Maria López Arroyo (Jorge), Antonio S. López (Johanna), Gerardo S. López (Martha), Hugo S. López (Gloria), Lucina López, Elodia López Rodriguez (José Luis); seventeen grandchildren, Araceli Arroyo-Ramirez (Luis), Angelica Arroyo-Perez (Julian), Jorge Arroyo – AnaMarisa López-Grebil (Matt), Jessica López, Cristina López, Antonio López – Amanda López – Erika López, Marcos López, Adan López – Hector Sandoval (Kimmie), Adrian Sandoval, Isa López – Alejandro Rodriguez, Gabriel Rodriguez, Mateo Rodriguez; five great grandchildren, Mireyli Arroyo Ramirez, Elias Arroyo Ramirez, Edgar Arroyo Ramirez – Aztlán Arroyo Perez – Nico Sandoval.   

From 1952-1959, Pedro participated in the US Department of Labor, Guest Worker Program (aka. the Bracero Program) and contracted himself out as a Bracero farmworker, leading to work in New Mexico, Arkansas, California, in the Salinas Valley and Sebastopol. It was in Sebastopol that he developed a friendship with a foreman and his family, Carl, and Grace Trent which ultimately led them to sponsor Pedro, Mercedes and their four children born in Mexico to establish legal US residency.  Carl eventually found work at the Lane Ranch in Ukiah and brought Pedro and his family with him. Pedro eventually became foreman of Lane Ranch and managed it until Mr. Lane passed away in 1973. Thereafter he was employed by La Luna Market formerly the Ukiah Food Depot for approximately four years.  In 1977 Pedro began working at Masonite, a lumber mill, where he ultimately retired on June 20, 1994.  

It was in Ukiah over the many years of service to the community at large, his parish community, the Mexican/Hispanic/Latino that earned him the title of “Don Pedro!” From a man that was described by Mercedes that would shy away from company and large gatherings, he found his confidence and calling to be a community organizer and leader. He also coached for North Ukiah Little League as well as Los Tigres de Ukiah in La Liga Latina de Norte California, adult baseball league. However, he always knew that like in baseball, it is a team effort, to succeed it takes more than a single individual, it requires respectful collaboration, coordination and capacity building, and a lot of faith! To this end Don Pedro was instrumental and took lead roles in initiating masses in Spanish at St. Mary’s Catholic Church; securing and placing the image of La Santa Virgin De Guadalupe in the Church; initiating, organizing, and celebrating the annual December 12^th Día de la Virgen celebration. Outside of his work with the Catholic Church he was one of the founding members of the Concilio Latino Americano of Mendocino County, created in 1969 and incorporated in 1970. This was a nonprofit organization, its motto was “Union y Estudio, Fuerza Comun.”  The Concilio had by-laws and their stated purpose/mission was “To promote whatever program, be it local, state, federal or private, whose motive is to eliminate the causes of social injustice and raise the social and economic level to the Latin community.”

As proud as he was of the community work listed above, he was most proud of his family and what they have and will accomplish. He laid the foundation of love, faith, hard work, perseverance, responsibility, respect, resiliency, and the understanding that a democracy requires an informed community. Don Pedro informed his children that his inheritance to them were the characteristics above, stressing a strong work ethic and the value of continuous learning, and an education.  He supported all six children to access a college/university education.  These values have been passed on to the grand and great grandchildren.  Pedro López Oritz accomplished a lot in his nearly 92 years of life, he has set a high bar for his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters are Refugia L. Garcia+ (Roberto+), Marta L. De Reza+ (Roberto), and grandson Eric Rodriguez.

Pedro leaves a legacy that will live forever!  He is looking down upon us and will continue to guide and support his family and the community that he loved so much.  He will especially be looking out for his life partner, Mercedes to insure she is being taken care of. Don Pedro, que descanse en paz y luzca para El la luz perpueta!