Ray Garrett

Ray Garrett, 73, of Rio Rico, Arizona, respected businessman and cherished husband of Lourdes (Barreda) Garrett, beloved father of Michael (Violeta) and Jeff, stepfather of Lourdes Julieta, Alejandra and Jesus (Cristina); and brother to Jodi Garrett and nephews. Ray also delighted in his fourteen grandchildren and step grandchildren, aged 5 to 31. Ray passed peacefully with Lourdes and Michael at his side on Sunday, December 27, 2020, after succumbing to complications brought on by the COVID-19 virus.

For 34 years, Ray owned and operated Garrett’s Supermarket on Yavapai Drive in Rio Rico. In 2005, his oldest son Michael became his partner in the business. Ray was born in Aberdeen, Washington and was the oldest son of Raymond and Shirley Garrett. He got into the supermarket business in his teens in neighboring Oregon, territory he loved and came to consider home. It was there that he learned the grocery trade from the ground up. Ray was a kind and respected boss to his employees, but above all he was the loving and committed patriarch of his family, loyal and entirely devoted to them. He loved his family deeply and possessed an infinite reservoir of support for them. His passing leaves a lifetime of wonderful memories that his family with cherish forever.

Ray’s traits included selflessness and extreme humility. Even with all his success, he never wanted to be the focus of attention or the subject of accolades. He was someone who was more comfortable doing things quietly, for bragging or boasting was simply not in his DNA. It is only now that he is resting in peace that his family wants to publicly acknowledge his many accomplishments.

Well informed and always up to date on current events, Ray was also a passionate sports fan who followed and knew what every team at every level was doing. He especially loved football, basketball and golf, and enjoyed many outings on the golf courses of Santa Cruz County and beyond. On weekends, when he wasn’t on the golf course, he occupied his favorite seat in his patio overlooking the Arizona desert where he enjoyed his Coors Lights and sports on TV with Lourdes at his side.

Ray was not only generous with his family, he was also a good citizen who practiced philanthropy as a regular contributor to various causes and organizations representing the less fortunate. Ray was not someone who ever said no when calls came in for help, whether it be from the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude’s Research Hospital for Children, or the Border Shootout Golf Tournament, whose proceeds went to the United Way. From his earliest days as a local businessman Ray helped support the Rio Rico School District in a myriad of ways, including the funding of the Rio Rico High School Basketball scoreboards and the marquis at Mountain View Middle School. Ray was often recognized for his generosity and in April he was scheduled to be inducted into the Santa Cruz Valley Distinguished Hall of Fame, which will now be done posthumously. Rio Rico lost a mentor and a pillar of the community. Ray positively impacted the many lives he crossed paths with and his light reflected the modesty and generosity that benefitted those fortunate enough to have met him.

Plans for a future memorial tribute will be finalized once gatherings are deemed safe from the spread of COVID-19. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Ray’s memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital’s donor telephone number is 800-822-6344. Please address any donation by mail to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101-9950.