miniapp
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It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Louie Fontes of the RF Bar Ranch in Riverdale, Ca. I know that he had many, many friends and acquaintences in the Miniature Horse community and I hope that this announcement reaches as many as possible. While I had the honor of training and showing his magnificent Appaloosa miniature horses to many AMHA and AMHR titles and managing his breeding program from 1989 to his dispersal in 2005, I have had the priviledge to call Louie and his wife Virgie my dearest friends for all those years.
Many of his notable horses were, Tiny Tim, 5 Time AMHA National Top Ten and a magnificent sire whose name appears in many of the top Appaloosa miniature horses of today. RF Bars Miss Teenie, RF Bar's I'm Cool Too, RF Bars Cool Hand Luke and RF Bars Joe Cool are just a few of the great horses sired by Tiny Tim and have started their own dynasty. Louie had a vision of the horses that he wanted to breed and was always so excited when a new foal was born or a horse excelled for a new owner. He loved the breed and the people in it...
Below is the obituary that appeared in the Fresno Bee:
LOUIE T. FONTES Louie T. Fontes of Riverdale passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2006, at his home at the age of 81 years. He was a native of Riverdale and lived there all his life. Louie was a retired dairy farmer who after he retired, raised and showed national champion miniature horses. He participated in numerous parades with the horses. Louie was a member of the Riverdale Rodeo Association, St. Ann's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Hanford Council #2343, Kings County Cabrillo Club, I.D.E.S. Council #108, Riverdale, U.P.P.E.C. Council #81 in Riverdale, Riverdale Luso American Life Council #15B and S.E.S. Council #73, Kerman. He also enjoyed hunting. Louie is survived by Virginia Fontes of Riverdale, his wife of 58 years two sons, Richard Fontes of Gold Hill, Oregon, and Kenneth Fontes of Arroyo Grande two daughters, Judith Johansen of Riverdale, and Sherrill Massingham of Benicia two sisters, Isabel Mello of Hanford, and Adeline White of Kingsburg eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Recitation of the Rosary and Mass will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Riverdale on Friday, July 7, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a private interment. Friends who wish, may contribute to St. Ann's Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 335, Riverdale, California, 93656or St. Agnes Hospice,
P.O. Box 27350, Fresno, California, 93729-9804
-Dale Funeral Chapel Lemoore, CA (559)924-5611
Below are some photos of Louie and the horses that he loved...
Louie and RF Bars I'm Cool Too, 7 Time AMHA National Top Ten Halter and performance gelding:
And Louie, Virgie, Eric Housley and I with Tiny Tim:
God Speed, Louie... I will miss you ......
Suzy Hooper
Show Horses by Suzy
Fresno, CA
Many of his notable horses were, Tiny Tim, 5 Time AMHA National Top Ten and a magnificent sire whose name appears in many of the top Appaloosa miniature horses of today. RF Bars Miss Teenie, RF Bar's I'm Cool Too, RF Bars Cool Hand Luke and RF Bars Joe Cool are just a few of the great horses sired by Tiny Tim and have started their own dynasty. Louie had a vision of the horses that he wanted to breed and was always so excited when a new foal was born or a horse excelled for a new owner. He loved the breed and the people in it...
Below is the obituary that appeared in the Fresno Bee:
LOUIE T. FONTES Louie T. Fontes of Riverdale passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2006, at his home at the age of 81 years. He was a native of Riverdale and lived there all his life. Louie was a retired dairy farmer who after he retired, raised and showed national champion miniature horses. He participated in numerous parades with the horses. Louie was a member of the Riverdale Rodeo Association, St. Ann's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Hanford Council #2343, Kings County Cabrillo Club, I.D.E.S. Council #108, Riverdale, U.P.P.E.C. Council #81 in Riverdale, Riverdale Luso American Life Council #15B and S.E.S. Council #73, Kerman. He also enjoyed hunting. Louie is survived by Virginia Fontes of Riverdale, his wife of 58 years two sons, Richard Fontes of Gold Hill, Oregon, and Kenneth Fontes of Arroyo Grande two daughters, Judith Johansen of Riverdale, and Sherrill Massingham of Benicia two sisters, Isabel Mello of Hanford, and Adeline White of Kingsburg eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Recitation of the Rosary and Mass will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Riverdale on Friday, July 7, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a private interment. Friends who wish, may contribute to St. Ann's Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 335, Riverdale, California, 93656or St. Agnes Hospice,
P.O. Box 27350, Fresno, California, 93729-9804
-Dale Funeral Chapel Lemoore, CA (559)924-5611
Below are some photos of Louie and the horses that he loved...
Louie and RF Bars I'm Cool Too, 7 Time AMHA National Top Ten Halter and performance gelding:
And Louie, Virgie, Eric Housley and I with Tiny Tim:
God Speed, Louie... I will miss you ......
Suzy Hooper
Show Horses by Suzy
Fresno, CA
