Antonio Madrigal Mercado was born January 17, 1911, in Mexico; passed away October 20, 2006 in Valencia, California, at the age of 95.

Antonio was preceded in death by his wife Petra.

They raised six children: three daughters, Gloria Mercado-Fortine (Bruce) of Valencia, California, Elba Garcia (Richard) of Ventura, California, and Alma Terranova (Jim) of Valencia, California; three sons, Tony (Jinae) of Stevenson Ranch, California, Mario of Valencia, California, and Louie (Ceceilia) of Saugus, California; fifteen grandchildren, Mark, Carlos and David of Saugus, Tiffany, Nicholas, Denika and Mickey of Saugus, Lisa Terranova of Valencia, Rick, Olivia, Michael Paul (Daniella), Jordan and Nathan Garcia of Ventura, Kathy Fortine of Burbank, and Rick Fortine (Renee) of Corona.

He was also preceded in death by two sons, Jose and Manuel, from a previous marriage. This marriage produced thirteen grandchildren, thirty-two great grandchildren and ten great-great grandchildren.

Antonio Mercado was a long-time resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, having brought his family to the small agricultural community in the early 1950s. Besides being a rancher and farmer, he worked for The Newhall Land and Farming Company and was instrumental in the construction of the Valencia golf courses.

He retired from Newhall Land in 1975 and continued his love of entrepreneurial ranching by raising cattle and other farm animals on his property in the Castaic area until the last few years.

Antonio had a colorful personality and was a man of tradition, a man of h is word and had strong work ethics based on integrity and honesty. He was a friend to all and a generous benefactor to those in need.

He loved history, was a great story teller and had a fierce passion for life and unqualified love for his family and friends. He was always active both physically and mentally.

He loved to garden, kept up with politics around the world, enjoyed watching boxing and soccer and especially enjoyed traveling with family. In recent years he traveled to Hawaii and to Mexico with a group of his children and grandchildren. He was also a participant in family camping trips.

He always taught his children values that instilled a strong ethic, stressed ambition and the importance of education to succeed in life and to be successful in whatever endeavor they pursued.

Antonio and Petra are buried together in the Garden of Pioneers at Eternal Valley Cemetery.