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Daniel Rufus Pastores

Posted 2022-02-24 by mhenderson
Published by Yuma Sun on Feb. 24, 2022 -
Yuma, Arizona -

Daniel Rufus Pastores was born on September 9, 1957, in San Diego,
California. He began his journey to be with the Lord and Creator on
Sunday, February 13, 2022, at Redlands Community Hospital. He was a
citizen of the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Nation.

Danny spent his adolescent life on the Ft. Yuma Indian Reservation in
Winterhaven, CA and graduated from San Pasqual Valley High School in
1975. He played Warrior football, basketball, and was a member of the
track team and the Future Farmers of America program. Danny earned a
letter for all four years of his sports participation.

After graduation, he left the Reservation to attend trade school for
commercial refrigeration, and at the end of 1976 he began his life and
career in Riverside, CA. He would learn the Refrigeration trade and how
to build and repair large commercial-grade cooling and freezing units
used in grocery stores and cold storage.

He began his career at Recon Refrigeration, and he held a few interim
jobs before eventually starting his first company, Arctic Appliance,
from 1982-1985 with a partner that repaired home appliances such as
washers, dryers, and refrigerators. In 1986, Danny opened his second
business, Dan's Air Conditioning & Heating, which he kept running until
his untimely passing.

Upon moving to Riverside, Danny became a member of the United
Pentecostal Church where he met Andrea, the woman with whom he would
share his life. The couple married in 1979 and had three children,
Daniel Jr., David, and Alena. Danny made a beautiful life for his family
and purchased a homestead he was proud of in 2006 where he lived until
his passing. Danny also enjoyed returning to his tribal homelands to
participate in recreational activities including dove hunting, fishing,
and motorsports in the Sand Dunes.

Danny is preceded in rest by his father, Daniel Ronald, Sr., and his
mother Nina Marie Escalanti, his maternal grandparents Peter Dugan, Sr.
and Mary K. Escalanti, his great grandmother Agnes Brown, great aunt
Rose Hartley, Uncles Pete and Rufus Escalanti, his sisters Nina and
Ramona Pastores, his nephew Francisco Javi Ortega, and great niece
Morningstar Mosely.

He is survived by his beautiful wife Andrea, his sons Danny and David
(Davina), his only daughter Alena (Sterling), his grandchildren Micah
and Naiya, the Pastores brothers: Randolph, Augustine, Kelvin (Jaleen),
Melvin, Gabriel (Cindee), Angelo Pastores, Emilio Esclanti, Keeny
Escalanti, Sr., sisters Danell Pastores, Rena Goforth, Rufina Escalanti,
and Anna Arviso, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts,
and uncles.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at Yuma
Mortuary. Viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by
traditional tribal rites at the Quechan Big House from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Pallbearers include: Keeny Escalanti, Sr., Peter Escalanti III,
Randolph, Augustine, Kelvin, Melvin, Gabriel, Angelo Pastores, Norman
and Gordon Osborne, and Emilio Escalanti.

Honorary Pallbearers include: Peter IV, Mark, Melo, and Anthony
Escalanti, Rudy and Joseph Waco, and Kaleb and Jaden Pastores, Daniel
Ortega, Randy Maddocks, Jason Franks, Toney Rivers, and Sterling Winans.

Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun




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