Gene Chavez

Gene Chavez, 64 of Santa Rosa, NM died Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at an Albuquerque hospital following an illness. Gene was born January 9, 1945 in Santa Rosa, NM the son of Rose M. Chavez. He attended Santa Rosa Public Schools. Gene received his welding degree from Luna Community College. After high school he worked for Square Deal Food Market and T & D Foods sacking groceries and later moved to the meat market where he worked for many years. He worked as a welder for a construction company that built Santa Rosa Dam, and also worked in Bakersfield, CA as a roughneck in the oil fields. He worked construction for several years as a heavy equipment operator. Gene worked for the City of Santa Rosa and also worked cleaning the First National Bank. He has been medically disabled for several years. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Santa Rosa and a member of the National Rifle Association. Gene was an avid hunter he enjoyed deer hunting, spending time out doors searching for arrowheads, rattlesnake hunting, and gathering firewood for his home. He was a gun collector. Following heart surgery several years ago he took up bike riding and spent many hours visiting his friends and cruising the streets in Santa Rosa. Gene was preceded in death by his mother Rose Chavez in 1988 a grandson Andrew Gene Jerome Sena in 1994 and his maternal grandparents Donaciano & Anna Chavez. He was a loving father, grandfather and friend. Survivors include three daughters and their husbands; Michelle and Edward Baca; Gina and Andrew Sena; Alexandria and Zachery Beck; the mother of his children Gloria Jean Chavez all of Santa Rosa; five grandsons Tim Baca, Santiago Ortega, Joshuah Sena, Ethan Chavez, Zacheriah Beck; two granddaughters Khadijah Sena and Czarina Ortega of Santa Rosa. Rosary services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 16, 2009 from St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Santa Rosa. Mass will be celebrated from the church on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. with father Irby Nichols officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Frank Tenorio, Rudy Casaus, Gerald Anaya, Max Tenorio, Pat Cordova, Arthur Campos, Richard Blea and Neo Chavez. Honorary bearers will be all his family and friends. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 923 S. Third Street; Santa Rosa, NM. (575) 472-3369. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com