Gerardo Camacho Alcaraz passed away peacefully on 10/23/2025 from complications of a lengthy illness. He was eighty-five. Born on 08/20/1940 in Nogales, Mexico, he was a devoted husband to Elidia and to his children, Gerardo Jr. and Marisa.

He migrated to Tucson when he was approximately 10 years old and became a naturalized citizen. He worked delivering the newspaper on his bike early in the morning before school in the downtown Tucson area. Gerardo attended Tucson High where he met Elidia. He graduated from Tucson High School in 1960. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Army and completed basic and advanced Infantry training at Fort Hood, Texas. He then was sent to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where he completed Airborne School with the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. He was a US paratrooper trained to parachute into combat zones. Although he was not active during war time, he was on standby for the Cuban Missile Crisis and continued training abroad until 1963 when he was honorably discharged from active duty but remained on reserve status until 1966.

He then began his journey as a truck driver at Kennecott Copper Mine in Ray Arizona on April 21st, 1964. He was very proud of his safety awards and perfect attendance awards. He loved his job.

After securing an excellent job, he married Elidia in 1965 at St. Margaret's Catholic Church and he and Elidia moved to one of the mining towns known then as Sonora. Their first son Bernardo was stillborn on 11/25/1965. They went on to have two more children, Marisa and Gerardo Jr.

In 1967, he and his family finally settled in their forever home of Oracle, AZ. There he met his "Oracle family."

After 39 years he retired in 2003 and that is when he became more involved with St. Helen's Church in Oracle and he joined the Knights of Columbus. He also soon became Elidia's caregiver until 2019 when she passed.

His hobbies included growing chiltepin plants, watching boxing, and watching Judge Judy in his man cave.

He was a simple man yet a deep thinker. He would talk to everyone. He liked to know what was going on and when he was able, he would be completing his outdoor projects and anything the church needed.  He was most proud of providing for his family by working at the mine. He was honored to serve his country of the United States of America after migrating from Mexico. He was happy to be of service to St. Helen's Church. He was proud of his Mexican roots but knew that he had to assimilate to a certain extent to be successful and thrive. And that he did.

He is preceded in death by his sons Bernardo, Gerardo Jr. and his wife, Elidia. He is survived by his daughter, Marisa.

May we all find comfort in knowing that his legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.