Fidel L. Chavez age 89, of Maxwell, NM, passed away June 12, 2015 in Maxwell.
He was born August 16, 1925 in Maxwell, NM, the son of Pedro and Rafaelita Lopez-Chavez. He was a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Maxwell, a veteran of WW II serving in the United States Navy where he was a fuel man on a aircraft carrier , was the Fire Chief in Maxwell for twenty five years and attended the conventions as Chief. He retired from the New Mexico Boys School after twenty five years where he ran the canteen and barber shop.
After he returned from the service he married Lillian Cruz in 1948, and they were married for sixty five years, He ran the Maxwell Barber Shop for over fifty years and had customers from Wagon Mound, Springer, Miami, Raton, Maxwell, Roy, and Mosquero. He always had time to give his customer a hair cut and always had a story to tell about what his customers were doing. He enjoyed his time with all his customers. Fidel loved to carve wood and had many wood carvings on display at his shop. He cherished and loved spending time with his grandchildren, in his earlier days he loved fishing and hunting and was ready to lend a helping hand no matter how large or small.
Fidel is preceded in death by his parents, infant son Joseph, wife Lillian, brothers and sisters in law, Tony and Bea Garcia, Cora and Pete DeAguero, Chris and Margaret Cruz, Floyd Espinoza, Herman Martinez, Sisters and Brothers, Flora and Paul Valdez, Fidelia and Fidel Valerio , Maria and Frutoso Mitchell and Carlos and Lucy Trujillo and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is survived by Daughter Julia and son Henry and his wife Elaine. Grandchildren Paul Stone and his children Cody Lynn, Tyler and Chris and their children Lileigh and Charleigh, Colton, Curtis, Ariana, Ben and Michaela and their children Isaiah and Zoe, Jennifer and Cody and their child Autumn, brother Jose R. Chavez, sisters in law, Esther Espinoza and Pauline Martinez. Numerous nieces nephews, cousins and friends, He will be missed by all that knew him.
Pallbearers will be Elmer Chavez, Paul Trujillo, Pete Valerio, Robert Valerio, Jason Serrano and Tony Bernal.
Visitation will be Saturday June 20, 2015 from 8:30 A.M. until 9:30 at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Maxwell. Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will be at 9:30 recited by Tony Ortega, Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10:00 A.M. with Father John Trambley as the celebrant. Rite of Christian Burial will follow in the Maxwell Cemetery.
Funeral Services and celebration of love for Fidel L. Chavez are under the direction of the Yaksich-Long Funeral Home of Raton.
