Mario Vazquez Vazquez, Oxnard longtime resident & well-known business owner of Mario's Garage, passed away on April 21st, 2026. He was born in Tijuana, Mexico on December 10th, 1947, to Juan Jose Vazquez & Maximina Esperanza Vazquez. Mario's life in California began in 1962. He was 15 years old when his family migrated from Tijuana, Mexico in search of a better future. Their starting point was in Sacramento. His father's brother lived there and offered them a place to stay while they got on their feet. Their next window of opportunity would be working in the plum orchards in a town known as Colusa. Mario and his family would rise at 2 in the morning to be ready to work in the plum orchards at 3am. They would use car headlights to light their work area and fill boxes of plums until noon. Between all the family members that included Mario's parents & siblings, they would fill 5 boxes, earning $20 per box. They would later move to San Jose, California where they lived on an orange orchard farm with an extended family member. They worked there for a few months picking oranges and moved to Oxnard, Ca in 1963.

Mario began working at Nash Carmona Ridgefield Gas Station on Cooper Rd. He would fill up cars with gas, perform air checks on tires, and soon he started to learn about auto mechanics. It was here at Nash Carmona that he met Adela Estrella. She had the biggest crush on Mario. She would find any excuse to come to see him. Whether it be putting gas or checking the oil in her car or cleaning her windows. Soon, Mario and Adela began dating. They fell in love, got married, and had 3 children, Mario, Carlos & Johnny.

Mario worked at Exxon Gas Station located on Rose & 1st Street for some time, then the Chevrolet assembly plan in Van Nuys, later became self-employed as he acquired the Wooley Road Gas Station and in 1981, Mario opened Mario's Garage which was a full-service auto shop. You would turn on the television and see TV commercials or hear about Mario's Garage being advertised on the radio. Mario was a proud business owner; his business became well known and became a staple of the community. His sons and his brother, Jose Luis, worked beside him at Mario's Garage.

Mario grew up in a large family. He had 6 brothers and sisters. He loved family gatherings, having carne asadas, loved hearing the Mariachi play & bringing people together. Mario is preceded in death by his loving wife, Adela Estrella Vazquez, his sons: Mario Vazquez and Carlos Vazquez, his siblings: Jesus Vazquez, Adolfo Vazquez, Leobardo Vazquez, Enedina Renteria, and Maria Elia Salinas, and his parents: Juan Jose Vazquez and Maximina Esperanza Vazquez.

Mario will be deeply missed by his son, Johnny Vazquez, his brother, Jose Luis Vazquez, his grandchildren, his nieces & nephews, and his lifelong friends.