Osbaldo 'Ozzie' Avila Cerrillo Jr.
February 14, 1954 – February 4, 2017
After a sudden diagnosis of stage 4 small cell cancer on Jan. 23, 2017, and a week-long stay at CWH, our father made the difficult decision to go home for his final days and spend his time with family and friends. In the early, snowy hours on Feb. 4, 2017 our dear father went to be with the Lord, and many other loved ones who have passed before him. Surrounded by his loving family, he was so happy and appreciative that he was able to spend his last hours on earth visiting and reminiscing with friends and family who came to spend time with him.
He was born on Feb. 14, 1954 in Sunnyside, Wash. to Osbaldo Ramirez and Hermila Avila Cerrillo, becoming the eldest of their seven children. In 1959, the family lived in Mabton, Wash. and began to split the years in Othello, Wash. due to the rapid growth in his father’s “family-owed” trucking business. In 1969, development of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project offered new employment opportunities which allowed the family to make Othello, Wash. their permanent residence. While working alongside his father and continuing his education, he graduated from Othello High School in 1972, and went on receive his AA at Big Bend Community College in 1974. After graduation he worked as a social worker, working for DSHS and being the Director of the Grant County Head Start and Migrant Council.
In July of ’77 he married Cathy Bragg, and together they had one son and three daughters. In their early married years they moved to the Seattle area, where they spent many days crab fishing, going to concerts, amusement parks, and enjoyed many other various family activities together. In 1989, they returned to Moses Lake and made it “home.”
Besides his family, his biggest passion was music. He taught himself how to play the drums, acoustic and the bass guitar, by ear. He was a member in numerous bands throughout his lifetime, from age 12 to 59, where he developed many great, lifelong friendships and memories that he cherished until his final days. He was always a humanitarian, and after his father passed in 1980 to pancreatic cancer, he was inspired to create, along with his fellow musicians/friends, Dayfest, a benefit concert event that raised awareness, along with funds that went to cancer patients and their families within the community.
In his recent years, he enjoyed spending time with his family. He was looking forward to retirement to spend more time hanging out and going on adventures with his grandchildren. He spent the majority of his time going to and watching sporting events, fishing, barbecuing and enjoying friends’ and family’s company, along with spending his days visiting friends and always having some sort of gift in arm, whether it was fresh vegetables and fruits in the garden or baked goods.
He is survived by his wife Cathy Bragg Cerrillo and four children Osbaldo D. Cerrillo III (Nick), Heather White (Patrick), Stephanie Cerrillo and Carly Garcia (Thomas); 16 grandchildren Jessie, Maceyn, Cassidy, Dayton, Joelee, Jasion, A’dyn, Jalen, Kamyrn, Nicholas, Jaxyn, Dylan, Kadilyn, Andrew and Tyson, all of whom were his heart and soul; six siblings Sylvia Salazar (Miguel), Rolando Cerrillo (Faith), Jerry Cerrillo (Lu Ann), Roy Cerrillo (Debi), Leticia Garza (Ricardo) and David Cerrillo along with many other loving family members and friends.
He was proceeded in death by his loving parents Osbaldo Ramirez Cerrillo and Hermila Avila Cerrillo, his father-in-law Carl Vincent Bragg, his nephew Sean Patrick McMullen and his grandson Dayne Anthony White.
Memorial services will be held on March 18, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Lake City Foursquare Church, located at 333 N. Central Dr., Moses Lake, Wash.