Ashley Marie Escobar lost her courageous battle with cancer on Nov. 14, 2013 at home. Ashley was born on May 1, 1987 in King City, Calif. She attended school in the King City School District and graduated from King City High School in 2005. She participated in volleyball, track and high school rodeo.

When she graduated from high school she went on to cosmetology school and was a hairdresser for several years before she started working for the Rava family three years ago.

She was involved in 4H for many years and showed swine and 4H projects at the Salinas Valley Fair. Her passion was rodeo and she loved barrel racing on her horse Buddy. She was in high school rodeo for several years and qualified for the state finals her senior year.

She couldn’t wait for the California Rodeo each year and didn’t miss very many of them during her 26 years. She helped her father out with the mutton bustin each year at several rodeos. Through her rodeo experiences she met and made lifelong friends with people from all over the country. Ashley lived life to the fullest and touched so many people with her beautiful eyes, smile and personality. As her oncologist Dr. Peyman Haghighat said “She brightened everyone’s life by simply meeting her.”

She is survived by her parents Earl and Cindy Escobar of King City, her brother J. D. (Lauren) Escobar of King City, her precious niece Addison Escobar and nephew Brycen Escobar of King City, Grandmothers Myrtle Ball and Dee Escobar of King City and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandpas Kenny Ball and Eddie Escobar as well as her uncle Jim Ball.

Ashley met the love of her life Jake Raine at a Salinas Valley Fair Roping in the Rava Equestrian Center two years ago. He gave her so much love and joy in those two years and has been her rock through the last six months.

A special thank you to all of her wonderful friends and family who have been there for her through this journey, Dr. Peyman Haghighat and his staff at Pacific Cancer Care, the great nurses on the fifth floor of SVMH and the VNA nurses that visited our home.

There was a celebration of life for Ashley on Thurs., Nov. 21 at the Salinas Valley Fair Orradre Building.

In lieu of flowers, she wanted donations made to the Salinas Valley Fair, the place where she spent so many wonderful hours as a child and later where she met the love of her life.

Ashley Marie Escobar