Grace McErquiaga

November 20, 1928 - January 18, 2024

Grace McErquiaga passed away peacefully on January 18, 2024 surrounded by her family.
Grace was 95 years old and a lifelong resident of Humboldt County. She was born in Winnemucca to Doss and Mabel McNinch on November 20, 1928, on the edge of the Great Depression.
Grace graduated from Humboldt County high school in 1942. She soon fell in love with John McErquiaga and the couple were married in 1945.
Shortly thereafter they fulfilled their dream of owning a ranch by buying the River Ranch near Orovada.
Grace and John soon welcomed 2 daughters (Dodie and Dorie) and began creating a life on the Ranch.
They taught their girls the value of hard work (damn hard work!), horsemanship, and the immeasurable value of family. Dodie married Ross Zimmerman in 1967 and Doris married Allan Albisu in 1968.
With the unfortunate and untimely death of John in 1979, Grace had to pick up the torch and carry on managing the ranch for the sake of her family.
Grace carried that torch for the next 44 years. She did so with an attitude befitting her name and with the type of perseverance and courage few have had to muster.
Grace had a lot of help from her daughters, their husbands, and her grandchildren (regular, great, and great, great).
Grace was preceded in death by her husband John, daughter Doris, son-in-law Alan Albisu, and siblings (Scott, Hank, Dorothy, Doris, Jean, Glen, Edna, Dave, and Dan).
She is survived by her daughter Dodie Zimmerman (Ross Zimmerman), son-in-law Mike Webster, 7 grandchildren – Bonnie Dory (Dana), Annie Schrempp (Jeff), Sonya Mathews (James), Karen Aitken (Keith), Rhonda Robertson (Todd), Aaron Albisu (Jenny), and John Zimmerman (Halie), 19 great grandchildren – Wade (Ashley), Katelyn (Austin) Rose; Jayla Schrempp; Madison (Mark), Cody (Abby) Matthews; Jacob (Brooke), Taylor (Sarah), Alison (Anthony) , Damon, Dustin Aitken; Ava (Eneko), Isaac, Amaia Zimmerman; Jaren (Courtney), Colt (Kailin), Dalton, Gaby Robertson; Dekklan, Landon Albisu; and 3 great, great grandchildren – Adilynn, Ross, Mark.
Grace will be sorely missed by her family. She was incredibly unselfish and kind (and tough when necessary) and her smile seemed to brighten the room like the sunrise on a crisp spring morning.
The family is honoring Grace’s desire to not hold a funeral or memorial and instead ask that those who knew her simply honor her memory by following the way in which she carried out her life; with grace!