Ysidro Cloy Vasquez

The family of Ysidro C. Vasquez gathered early on the morning of Monday, July 11, 2011 in Oxnard, California, with prayers and a reading of the 23rd Psalm, to ease his passing unto the Lord after a long illness. Also known to friends and family as "Joe." Ysidro was born December 1, 1920 in El Rio, California to parents Sam and Nellie Twist, of North American Chumash (Turtle Clan) and Canadian Nootka Nations ancestry. Ysidro weathered the Great Depression of the early 1930's. Memories of those hard times forged his resilient nature and tireless work ethic. At an early age, Ysidro, his sister Vera, and his brother, Richard, were separated and sent to live by Government decree with different foster families, so that the children could grow up in a stable families and receive a basic education. This was customary treatment for Native Americans at that time in history. The children, however, managed to keep in touch with each other throughout their lives. Ysidro served his Country, joining the United States Army in 1942, with a tour of duty under General Patton's Army, 4th Armored Division in Europe as a Prisoner of War (POW) Camp Guard. He attained the rank of Private First Class with an Honorable Discharge in 1946. Upon his return stateside, Ysidro's employers were the United States Civil Service, followed by the Painters Union, from which he retired in 1984. Ysidro read the newspaper daily and enjoyed entertaining people with jokes and exciting tales of World War II. He was a humble man, and always accepted people in their best light. A role model for today's green generation, he practiced a basic thriftiness that included organic gardening, saving rain water, and transforming composted kitchen waste into a bountiful garden that produced yearly crops of avocado, apricots, oranges, chayote squash, merlot and champagne grapes, tomatoes, and many other organically grown varieties. Ysidro is survived by his wife of 60 years, Esther Ponce Trujillo Vasquez; his sons, Joseph and George; a sister, Vera De Leon; and granddaughter, Jacqueline Telles, and 5 great-grandchildren. His beloved daughter, Geraldine, preceded him to the hereafter in 2006. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26).