BORN

1922

DIED

2012

FUNERAL HOME

Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary

3838 Camino Del Rio North Suite 103

San Diego, California

Raymond Adair Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Nov. 24, 2012.

Raymond (Shorty) Adair
July 19, 1922 – November 24, 2012
Jockey, Husband, Father

Raymond (Ray) Adair was born on July 19, 1922, on a family ranch in Ramah, New Mexico. In those days and in that part of the country, horses outnumbered automobiles and they did most everything that needed to be done. Ray grew up around horses, he knew and loved them. When Ray was fourteen, he left home and headed to San Diego, California to start a career as a Thoroughbred horse jockey where he worked on the San Ysidro Stock Farm near the Mexican border. Ray like others his age, hoping to become a jockey, started out cleaning horse stalls and doing various chores around the horse farm. However, it was not long before the manager of the farm discovered young Ray's special way with horses and began to give him more chores related directly to the handling of green horses. For the next few years, Ray continued to learn how to handle and ride Thoroughbred races horses. Ray got his first break on a big time Thoroughbred horse track on January 23rd, 1938. The manager of the San Ysidro Stock Farm took him to Agua Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico where he rode his first horse race on a recognized race track. From that point young Ray had twenty-nine victories his first season at Caliente, giving him a real chance to become a top national rider. One of the most memorable experiences young Ray often talked about from his days riding at Caliente was a match race in 1938 against the famous Thoroughbred Seabiscuit. Ray got beat that day, but by only a nose. It was an experience he never forgot later in life. From Caliente, Ray's career took him to the eastern tracks where he rode at Suffolk Downs in Boston, Aqueduct and Belmont Park in New York and Hialeah Park in Florida, to name a few. It was an unbelievable adventure for the young Ray to be given the chance to race on a "big time" race track on the eastern seaboard. From that point, Ray rode at all the famous eastern race tracks of the time. During his horse racing career, Ray rode with some of the most famous jockeys of the time such as Edie Arcaro, George Woolf, and Johnny Longden. He rode in the Kentucky Derby in 1943 and again in 1951. Ray continued his racing career into the mid 1960s.

Ray had to give up his racing career when at the death of his wife Evelyn in 1963, he had to raise two young kids on his own. Needing to find a steady source of income, Ray took his family to live with his sister, Virginia Medlock in Window Rock, Arizona. Virginia's husband, Ray Medlock, taught Ray how to use and handle heavy equipment. However, Ray longed to be around the horses he loved. When Connie Stewart who had a Thoroughbred farm in what is now called Colorado City, Colorado offered Ray a job to manage his horse farm, Ray jumped at the chance. Ray with his two young children, Rayette, eleven years old, and Raymond, ten years old, packed up and headed for Colorado.

Ray worked on the Stewart Thoroughbred Farm for several years before finally taking on his last career to maintain the roads around Rye and Colorado City for Pueblo County. Ray retired from Pueblo County in 1990 and spent the majority of his life in retirement in the mountain country around the Greenhorn Mountain he so loved. In August of 2011, he moved to San Diego, where he lived with his son Raymond Adair and his partner Scott Eldredge until his death on November 24, 2012.

Ray is survived by his former wives Neppie Williams and Marilyn Gilmore, both of Rye, Colorado. In addition, he is survived by four children, Dallas Adair, who lives in Colorado City, Colorado with his wife Kim and two children, Chance and Kacie; Robin Adair, and her husband Michael Anderson who live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; a daughter Rayette Adair, who lives in the Chicago area; and an older son Raymond, and his partner Scott Eldredge, who live in San Diego, California. He is also survived by his sisters Virginia Chilson of Portland, Oregon and Peggy Renolds of Overland, Nevada. In addition, Ray had numerous grandchildren. He will be missed and loved by his family and friends.

A memorial service for the family will be held in the Spring of 2013 in order to fulfill their father's desire to be in the Greenhorn Mountain country he so loved. The family requests that instead of flowers a donation in the name of their father be made to the San Diego Humane Society. To make a donation go to www.sdhumane.org and then click on the Donate link at the top of the page.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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Not sure what to say?

December 14, 2013

Robin Adair

Dear Dad,

I feel like you've never left. You're still here in my heart. I thought I wouldn't know what to do without kowing I could see you or call you if I wanted or needed to. Now, I feel just like you're still here. I love you very much. Thank You for being my Dad. I wouldn't be me if it weren't for you. Love You Forever, Robin Rae

December 2, 2012

Neppie Williams

Sorry to hear of Ray's passing...

November 28, 2012

I will miss my big brother,wish we could have lived closer,I know Debbie would have loved being close to you and share your love of horse's. I will miss hearing ",hey little sister",what are you up to? But I know you are with family that,s been waiting for you.I love you always, little sister. Peggy Reynolds Overton Nv.

November 28, 2012

michael anderson

Hi pops you are very missed

November 28, 2012

Debbie Morris

I unfortunately did not have the chance to meet you Ray, but I know you were a great man, you had an incredible life, and were loved dearly. Thank you for giving us Ray Jr. who is an amazing man, an important part of our family, and loved more than I can express. Rest in peace.

November 28, 2012

Robin Adair

Dad, I miss you so much, and I'll always keep you in my heart. I love you very much. "Yatahey, Ishke?"

November 27, 2012

Hi pop

November 27, 2012

Ray

Dad we love you and we will miss you.

November 27, 2012

Scott Eldredge

Pop I love you and miss you. Remember this picture, we went to dinner and you asked me where all you sunglasses have gone we lolololo. Much love, Scott

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results

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Funeral services provided by:

Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary

3838 Camino Del Rio North Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92108

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