Ruben DeLeon Marquez passed away tragically on October 22, 2025 in Willow Creek. He was born in Hoopa on June 29, 1981.

Ruben graduated from Hoopa Valley HS & went straight to Arizona to the Universal Technical Institute to graduate with a Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Automotive, Diesel, and Industrial Technology. He immediately went to work for Billy Boat, former Indie car racer, then he went on to work for FabTech Motor Sports. After bumping around racing in a dune vehicle and fabricating he moved back to California. He started working for Aria Group, in Irvine which designed, engineered and manufactured automobiles. He was on top of his career when he was involved in a auto accident which took months to recover from. After a few years of working with daily pain he decided to move back to Willow Creek to be closer to his family.

He was born a social butterfly and when little league season started, there was Ruben coaching and umpiring. If you’d ask him “can you take a look at my car” he’d do it. If you’d ask him for a special weld, he’d do it. And if you just needed him to housesit he would do it because he was dependable.

His true love was playing his music. He had asked his second grade music teacher to teach him the guitar. He also took pleasure swimming and playing in the river every summer with his nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his parents Silvia DeLeon and Johnny Marquez; his aunts Rachel, Jessica, Geraldine and Ruby DeLeon; his uncles John and Eddie DeLeon and Ralph Reyes; and all his cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Joe and Maria DeLeon, and John and Marilyn Marquez.

Anyone who knew Ruben will immensely miss him. Te amo mucho hijo!

There will be two celebrations for Ruben. One will be at The Rock Slide Bar & Grill in Hawkins Bar, Hwy 299 on January 10 at 3 p.m. Potluck and grill will be open, and there will be lots of music. The second one will be in early spring at The Forks Bar in Willow Creek, date and time to be announced later via Facebook and posted at the bar.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ruben Marquez’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.