Anthony Louis Mendonca was born on Feb. 20th, 1932, in the house next door to where he lived most of his life in Red Bluff, and was the second son of Joeseph and Mary Mendonca.

Tony is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lois Ranberg Mendonca, sons Stephen (Terena), and Quinn Mendonca. Daughters Toni (Joe) Gaylord, and Diane (John) Casey, and sister Evelyn (Tim) Henderson. Grandchildren, Jake Mendonca, Deidra Fletcher, Dan Jourdan, Justin Jourdan, Nick Mendonca, Renee Shankar, Kayla Diehl, Bradi Nantell, Seth Casey, Shane Casey, Shannon Mendonca, Aubrey Mendonca, 18 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Also survived by first cousin, Larry (Pam) Alvares, and former daughters in law, Kathy (Bill) Jourdan, and Kathy Martinez Mendonca.

Predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Mary, brothers Angelo and Jim, sister Margaret Spooner, Uncle Tony Alvares, and son Matt (1988)

At the age of two, his family moved to Lovelock NV, where his father worked in a dairy. Ten years later, at the age of twelve, and the addition of 3 more siblings, the family moved back to Red Bluff. Through the years, on occasion, Tony would make a trip back to Lovelock to visit his childhood friends and fringe relatives….especially one family with 7 daughters! Even though their life was hard at that time, Tony had some fond memories of the Lovelock area and the families who lived there and shared many stories through the years. One time, his mother had to return to Red Bluff without the family, at the age of 11 he was left in charge of his baby sister, Evelyn, for better than a week. Diapers and feeding, everything! The only negative outcome was that his mother came home to all pink diapers, from a laundry mishap, but Tony said he loved that time so much, caring for his sister, and he always felt a special bond with her because of it.

Tony's parents bought property on Rawson Rd., where he lived the rest of his life. He loved living there and it was so important to him. He and Lois ended up raising their five children on this property as well. While in his late teens, Tony's father became ill, so he took on the job of caring for his parents and two younger sisters, Margaret and Evelyn. At that time his older brother, Angelo, was going into the Navy, and his younger brother, Jim, was going to a seminary school, later leaving and joining the Air Force. On top of working a full and parttime job, Tony decided his mom needed a new house. So, he tore the old one down, moved the family into the Lourence's Quonset hut, and gradually built the house, moving into it in 1953 (at the age of 21), with just studs for interior walls. Lois always has joked that it's still not quite finished!

As a kid, he always found work with the neighbors, like Louie Lourence, his cousin Dave Pimentel, or his Uncle Tony Alvares. During his high school years, Tony worked at Minch's slaughter house in the early a.m.'s before school, un-shrouding beef that had been killed the day before. One summer he worked on a ranch in Trinity County, sheepherding, in his opinion

the most beautiful mountain valley that now is covered by Trinity Lake. It wasn't all work, Tony played trombone in the high school band, played a little football, ran track, drove cars, rodeoed with Joe Selvester, and had general teenage fun.

After graduating high school, Tony had a part-time job at the Shell station for Gene Penny and worked full time for Dave Minch at Minch's Wholesale Meats. Through the years he had many jobs there. Skinning calves, putting up orders, loading trucks, local delivery driving, and later driving Semi's to the Bay Area and federal bases, hospitals, and state prisons. He always had a story to tell about his travels and the people he met while on those excursions. Later in years, when an occasional trip to the city was warranted for one reason or another, he could still navigate the city, albeit by truck routes and alley ways he remembered from his driving days.

In July, 1953, Dave Minch hired one of his daughter's friends, Lois Ranberg, to work wrapping meat for custom meat orders, and that is where Lois and Tony met. They started dating later that year and courted for about 3 years, getting married on August 17th, 1957. Tony and Lois started their family in 1958 raising 5 children, which they had in a little over 6 years, so, for the next 20+ years they were BUSY! Besides working, which he loved, Tony was an active 4-H leader, cooked the dinner at the 4-H Fun Night for years, attended Little League games, Softball games, piano and band recitals, and sometimes helping Angelo on the Elks Kitchen Crew. He had a band of sheep he raised on the property for several years and grew Sudan for hay in the fields. There was also "Blossom" the milk cow, that helped keep his big family in a much needed supply of milk. Since the Mendonca family was Portuguese from the Azore islands, (NOT the mainland as Tony's mother would always comment.) Tony was always involved with the annual Portuguese Festa and "soupas" feeds that were a 2 day event enjoyed by many!

In 1977 Tony built and opened Tony's Custom Meats, a custom farm slaughter butcher shop, which he ran for the next 40+ years, sometimes with help, and sometimes not. During the building period, he would have friends show up to help. Bill Clanton and Hop Brown surprised him by pouring a concrete slab at the shop one weekend when he was gone. His customers were very loyal and still patronize the business to this day. Many baked him goodies when he showed up for butchering, or for his birthday, or holidays, as well as gift him homemade preserves and garden fruits and vegetables, he was always humbled by their kindness and thoughtfulness. Tony had an extremely busy work schedule, and was happy when Quinn wanted to work with him in 1996, and hoped he would take it over one day, which he did.

Tony loved motorcycles and had several old ones through the years, both dirt and road bikes. One day in 1972, Lois gathered up the 5 kids, went down to Johnny Ross Motorcycles on Walnut St. by the railroad tracks, and with money she had saved she surprised him with the candy apple red Honda SL 350 he had been admiring in the window! His first new ride, and he rode it as much as he could. Tony would work hard to keep a communal mini bike, go-cart, or dirt bike running for the kids to ride, you can imagine how much they were used and abused!

There were many great rides and motorcycles through the years with family and friends, and Tony rode until his early 80's. Hunting was another sport he enjoyed, and always fondly remembered a Colorado hunting trip with his brother-in law, Ernie Spooner, where he shot a 5 point, hanging the carcass overnight upon his return on the trellis at the entry gate to the yard, because that's what worked. We still have those horns.

Tony always kept his cool, was an amazing cook, baker, canner, loved being outside in nature. He was a proud and loving father and husband, and loyal friend. All babies (including his many grand or great grandchildren) loved him and his quiet sweet demeanor. He would gently walk them around, softly talk to them, and show them the beautiful world and things in it. A modest, sweet, and humble guy, who was a great role model for his children and the following generations. He would drop everything if a friend or family needed help, but didn't want anyone doing too much for him. He gave his all with love and a smile.

Tony was called home on August 13th 2024, 4 days before his 67th anniversary to the love of his life. He will be missed intensely, but we have such comfort knowing he's in the presence of his family and friends who went before him, and that he's ripping it up on the best dirt bike ride ever.

Graveside Service will be Friday, September 6th at 1 pm at St. Mary's Cemetery (Hook Road, Red Bluff)

Reception to follow service at Red Bluff Elks Lodge (355 Gilmore Road, Red Bluff)