Ricardo Zarate Botello

Ricardo G. Zárate Botello, age 85, passed away on May 30, 2026 in El Paso, Texas.Ricardo was born in Yurécuaro, Michoacán, Mexico. He lived there until the age of 12. On August 22, 1953, he and his family moved to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, where they made their home.At the age of 14, Ricardo began working to help support his family. He would cross the border into El Paso, Texas, which at that time was simply crossing a bridge, to work at a hotel. There, he carried guests’ suitcases to their rooms and earned tips. He gave most of his paycheck to his mother to help with family expenses. His sisters, Consuelo, Rosa Cruz, and Marcelina, lovingly cared for him and made sure he was always well dressed, often buying his clothes for him.At the age of 20, Ricardo met the love of his life in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Their story began at a convenience store where his future wife was eating a snow cone. Ricardo asked if he could have a taste, and she said yes. From that simple moment, their love story began. They started dating and eventually moved in with Ricardo’s parents. Soon afterward, they welcomed their first child, who was born in Ciudad Juárez. A few years later, they had their second child. Together they were blessed with nine children: Alma Rosa Ortega, Olga Lidia Barron, Ricardo Jr. Zárate, Jose Luis Zárate, Alfredo Zárate, Arturo Zárate, David Francisco Zárate, Maria Isabel Valles, and Araceli Pintado. Five of their children were born in El Paso, Texas.Ricardo was a devoted husband and father who spent as much time as possible with his children. We have countless memories with him that will never be forgotten.On September 18, 1970, two of Ricardo’s older sisters purchased a house for their parents. His parents moved to Texas, and shortly afterward Ricardo and his wife moved to Denver, Colorado, for a time. Wanting to provide a better future for his family, Ricardo worked hard to save money to buy a home. At one point, he moved his family back to El Paso while he returned to Denver to work. However, he soon realized he could not live in a different state without his family. He brought them back to Denver, where he quickly found work and continued building a life for them.Ricardo was an incredibly hardworking man. He always made sure to arrive at work 30 minutes to an hour early. No matter how much snow there was or how difficult the weather conditions became, he never missed work. He took great pride in providing a roof over our heads and food on the table. Even after long workdays and extra hours on weekends, he still made time to play with us, support us, and be present in our lives.One of his greatest joys was taking the family on road trips to visit his sister in Erie, Colorado. She always welcomed us with open arms. Sometimes we would travel with our aunt and her husband to visit nearby ranches. Those trips became some of our favorite family memories. Even though the destinations were often only about an hour away, they felt like great adventures to us.Music was always a part of our home. We have fond memories of waking up to music in the mornings and hearing it again before bedtime. Our parents loved music, and it brought joy into our lives every day.Ricardo also loved telling jokes. Even when he repeated the same joke over and over, changing it just a little each time, he always managed to make us laugh. His sense of humor brought happiness to everyone around him.He was a strong man, and we rarely saw him cry. After the passing of our mother, he tried to remain strong even though it was very difficult for him. Before his passing, he spoke about his concern for his sister, Rosa Cruz Valdivia, who is 96 years old and still living.Our father leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, sacrifice, faith, and devotion to family. We thank God for blessing us with such an amazing father. We will cherish his memory forever and carry his lessons and love in our hearts for the rest of our lives.He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever loved.