Guillermo Torres Obituary

Guillermo Kelly Torres (2000 - 2023) Guillermo Kelly Torres, known to his family as "Memo", deeply touched many hearts in his all-too-short life. He was kind, compassionate and generous, always going out of his way to help others. At an age when many young people think primarily of themselves, he regularly sent money to Mexico to help support much younger siblings. If a friend or coworker was stranded and needed a ride, he was quick to offer his assistance even when tired after a long day's work. He was sociable, friendly and warm, a young man interested in people who seemed to make friends readily wherever he went. He had friends of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds. He gave great hugs and backrubs. He also liked animals, enjoyed fishing and was a keen observer of the natural world. Memo loved to dance and he appreciated all kinds of music. He inherited a natural artistic talent from his father, which was already evident in the many beautifully composed photos he took as a high school student. He later began to draw and paint, frequently accepting commissions from coworkers. He enjoyed visiting art museums. He was interested in archaeology, history and, above all, the politics of both the United States and Mexico. He had a social conscience and thought deeply about the state of the world. Memo spent his early years in El Rosario, Mexico, and he never lost pride in his Mexican heritage. He spoke enthusiastically about Mexican food and music, holiday customs, and his childhood adventures in the fields, forests, lakes and rivers of his hometown. His description of the ice cream handmade by an El Rosario vendor was mouthwatering. A large part of his heart always remained with his Mexican family and friends. Memo had an adventurous spirit. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 14. He knew no English at first, but rapidly learned to speak English without an accent. Later he learned from coworkers to speak some Punjabi and in his late teens he became friendly with an elderly Mayan man who was teaching him the language. Memo attended the "Maestro Julio Hernandez" General Secondary School in El Rosario. He graduated in 2018 from Sierra High School in Manteca, where he won athletic awards as a soccer player. He attended the College of Marin in Kentfield. He traveled to Mexico and to the Dominican Republic. And from the age of 15 he always had a job. He drove a tractor and worked as a veterinary assistant for Quaresma Dairy, as a quality control technician for Taylor's Farms, and as a clerk in Nugget Markets, Woodlands Market, Mollie Stone's Market, Noah's Bagels, and Safeway in Marin County. Memo is survived by his parents, Guillermo Kelly Paez, his mother Amada Matilde Torres Rubio, stepmother Heidi Hafer, grandmothers Maria Dolores Rubio and Julieta Duenas Paez, siblings Ismael, Angel, Victoria, Milagros, Erika, Horacio, Rosa, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, in both the United States and in Mexico, who loved him dearly. His girlfriend, Estefany Zavala Morataya, and by Hursula Lopez, his spirit mother ("my son who came from the sea", she liked to say) and her family. Guillermo Kelly Torres (2000 - 2023) Guillermo Kelly Torres, conocido por su familia como "Memo", toco profundamente muchos corazones en su corta vida. Era amable, compasivo y generoso, siempre haciendo todo lo posible para ayudar a los demas. A una edad en que muchos jovenes piensan principalmente en si mismos, regularmente enviaba dinero a Mexico para ayudar a mantener a sus hermanos mucho menores. Si un amigo o companero de trabajo estaba varado y necesitaba que lo llevaran, se apresuraba a ofrecer su ayuda incluso cuando estaba cansado despues de un largo dia de trabajo. Era sociable, amigable y calido, un joven interesado en las personas que parecian hacer amigos facilmente dondequiera que iba. Tenia amigos de todas las edades, razas y origenes etnicos. Dio grandes abrazos y masajes en la espalda. Tambien le gustaban los animals, le gustaba pescar y era un agudo observador del mundo natural. A Memo le encantaba bailar y apreciaba todo tipo de musica. Heredo un talento artistico natural de su padre, que ya era evidente en las muchas fotos bellamente compuestas que tomo cuando era estudiante de secundaria. Mas tarde comenzo a dibujar y pintar, aceptando con frecuencia encargos de companeros de trabajo. Le gustaba visitar museos de arte. Estaba interesado en la arqueologia, la historia y, sobre todo, la politica tanto de los Estados Unidos como de Mexico. Tenia conciencia social y pensaba profundamente sobre el estado del mundo. Memo paso sus primeros anos en El Rosario, Mexico, y nunca perdio el orgullo de su herencia mexicana. Hablo con entusiasmo sobre la comida y la musica mexicanas, las costumbres navidenas y sus aventuras infantiles en los campos, bosques, lagos y rios de su ciudad natal. Su descripcion del helado hecho a mano por un vendedor de El Rosario fue deliciosa. Una gran parte de su corazon siempre permanecio con su familia y amigos mexicanos. Memo tenia un espiritu aventurero. El emigro a los Estados Unidos a la edad de 14 anos. Al principio no sabia ingles, pero rapidamente aprendio a hablar ingles sin acento. Mas tarde aprendio de sus companeros de trabajo a hablar algo de punjabi y en su adolescencia se hizo amigo de un anciano maya que le estaba ensenando el idioma. Memo asistio a la Escuela Secundaria General "Maestro Julio Hernandez" en El Rosario. El se graduo en 2018 de Sierra High School en Manteca, donde gano premios deportivos como jugador de futbol. Asistio al College of Marin en Kentfield. Viajo a Mexico y a la Republica Dominicana. Y desde los 15 anos siempre tuvo un trabajo. Condujo un tractor y trabajo como asistente veterinario para Quaresma Dairy, como tecnico de control de calidad para Taylor's Farms y como empleado en Nugget Markets, Woodlands Market, Mollie Stone's Market, Noah's Bagels y Safeway en el condado de Marin. A Memo le sobreviven sus padres, Guillermo Kelly Paez, su madre Amada Matilde Torres Rubio, su madrastra Heidi Hafer, sus abuelas Maria Dolores Rubio y Julieta Duenas Paez, sus hermanos Ismael, Angel, Victoria, Milagros, Erika, Horacio, Rosa y numerosas tias, tios y primos, tanto en los Estados Unidos como en Mexico, que lo querian mucho. Su novia, Estefany Zavala Morataya, y por Hursula Lopez, su madre espiritual ("mi hijo que vino del mar", le gustaba decir) y su familia.