Gilbert "Rey" Montez Parada

Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert Duarte Parada and Maria Luisa "Mary Lou" Montez-Parada, his siblings Dolores Parada and Rosie Garcia. He is survived by his wife Cecilia Orona Parada, siblings Julio Ponce, Connie Martinez and Josie Gomez, children Daniel Garcia, Gilbert Parada Jr., Marisela Parada Genel and Valerie Parada-Gomez and 15 grandchildren. Gilbert was born in Calexico, Ca and raised in Coachella. He later moved to Lamont, Ca as a young man where he later started his own family. Like many young men at the time, he left school to help earn a living for his family, working earnestly in the "fields". His steadfast dedication to his family and job earned him a supervisory position in the fields where he continually demonstrated his sincere compassion for his fellow workers. He was the type of guy that would literally give you the shirt off his back. He was generous that way. He eventually moved on to bigger things and became a project landscaper. He played his part in many professional projects and because of his leadership on those project crews, once again was given the reigns of responsibility and was made foreman of his own crew. "Rey" wore many professional hats in his lifetime and loved providing for his family but his real passion was spending time with his family. Rey loved to do anything outdoorshunting, fishing, hiking/exploringthat was his true joy. If you ever met Rey, you undoubtedly have had him tell you one of his "hunting" or "fishing" tall-tales. If you owned a nice truck, he'd ask if he could borrow it to go hunting or if he knew you had a fishing boat, he'd want to borrow it to add to his "tall-tales"!!! He never stopped thinking about the great outdoors until the day he passed. "Tata" Rey, as his grandbabies know him, loved his "little one's" even more (if it's possible) than his outdoor affection. At family functions, Rey would visit with both the young and old and carry on the most interesting of conversations with all. It was truly a treat to hear Rey talk about his adventures. Rey was a "family man"a genuinely good guy who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Jehovah's Witness faith. We, as his family, love and miss him soooooooo much and will cherish every single memory we have of "King" Rey and will keep him alive by sharing "Rey Tales" at our social gatherings. If you knew him, we encourage you to do the same about not only Rey, but about all your loved one's.