Jerald "Jerry" Echenique passed away on May 3rd. He was 49 years old.

SERVICES:

ROSARY SERVICES are scheduled for 7pm, Thursday, May 10, 2012 at St. John's Catholic Church, 503 N. Third St., King City, Calif.

FUNERAL MASS is scheduled for 10am, Friday, May 11, 2012 at St. John's Catholic Church. Graveside interment will follow at San Lucas District Cemetery.

Jerry was born in King City on April 25, 1963 to Francis "Basco" and Peggy Echenique. He attended San Lucas Union School and graduated from King City High School in 1981. After graduation, Jerry started to work on the family ranch. He loved nothing more than to be working alongside his dad raising cattle and dry-land farming.

After he and Jill were married, they settled down on the ranch and raised their three sons. Jerry often missed the dinner bell because a cow needed tending to or a fence needed to be fixed or a neighbor needed help. He was always there to help a friend in need.

Jerry was a conservationist. He and his sons spent many hours on range management to help preserve wildlife for future generations. Jerry instituted a minimum point system for their bucks in order to let them grow and mature. It brought him and the boys such joy to see another crop of bucks that benefitted from all of their hard work.

Jerry was an avid hunter and excellent shot. He was never without his hunting partner and best friend, Kek Flores. He also loved to hunt with friends Jack Smith, Bill Petrovic, Drake Frudden, Ron Dalton, Hethe Barbree, Marc Giudici, Joe Harrington, Cody Bassetti, Levi Bassetti, father-in-law Stan Dedini, Jim Fanoe and, as Jerry's and Kek's kids, Zane, Myles, Austin, Landon and Leslee, got older they joined the hunting group. Many stories can be told of the summer nights at Buck Camp, Ladies Night abalone feeds and out- of- state hunting trips. Jerry was also very talented at building and wood working.

Jerry's passion for hunting was surpassed by his love for his family. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Jill; his sons Zane (Audra) Echenique of San Lucas, Myles Echenique of San Jose and Austin Echenique of San Lucas; his loving and supportive sister Jane Johnson of Paso Robles and numerous nephews and nieces. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Francis "Basco" and Peggy Echenique. He is also survived by his brother James Echenique of Sparks, NV and his sister Julie Digges of San Lucas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, or Extra Life through the Children's Miracle Network.