Luis J. Becerra

                  “ The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car. It’s the one who refuses to lose. “

                                                                                                                                            - Dale Earnhardt

On January 31st, 2024, Luis J. Becerra passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones, after a long and hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56 years of age and did not allow his diagnosis to define how he lived out his life and refused to lose.

Luis came from humble beginnings. Born to Maria Juarez, he was the eldest son, and the third sibling out of seven. He was born and raised in El Centro, CA, within the Imperial Valley. He developed a strong work ethic in his youth and would help provide for the family by going to work with his parents in the fields. After graduating from Central Union High School, he became an Imperial Valley Sheriff explorer, and later, a reserve Sheriff’s deputy. He was a hard worker, a great provider to his family and ended his career as an Electrical Operator for PAR West. While Luis spent his formative years in the Imperial Valley, he chose to raise his children in the Coachella Valley, and finally settled down in Redlands, CA.

Luis had three children, Jennifer, Angel, Melissa, and a stepdaughter by marriage.

He was a selfless and present father, who in the end, was surrounded by his children who will carry on his legacy and memory.

Luis had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed traveling with his wife Irma, especially in his travel trailer. Luis has a lifelong dream of becoming a professional Nascar driver but settled for being a lifelong fanatic of the sport. There was never a televised race he did not miss.

On July 9th, 2021, Luis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He refused to accept his prognosis, and battled cancer straight on. He had the support of his family and his faith to guide him forward. Luis beat the odds and lived the last few years of his life, traveling with his wife and surrounding himself with family. Luis lived a life that many people would dream of having and in the end, was the fulcrum that brought the family closer together. While time does not fix the pain, it could teach one to grow with it, and carry an inner strength to move forward.

He was a lover of oldies. Luis would always have oldies playing wherever he was. He would play oldies on his phone during his chemo treatments. The nurses would dance with him, and it lightened the mood. One year, he gathered his energy to make all the nurses in the oncology department tamales for Christmas. That's the type of person he was.

Luis is preceded in death by his youngest daughter Melissa Becerra. Luis is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Irma, his children Jennifer, Angel and stepdaughter Wendy, his mother Maria, and his father Luis, his six siblings, Monica, Gabriela, Carmina, Verónica, Mario and Cesar: along with his extended family and friends.

The Family would like to Thank everyone who was there during the difficult times of his disease. We appreciate you all.