Harry R. Chavez

 Eulogy for Harry R. Chavez;

Harry Romulo Chavez was a great loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was the son of Andy and Rafaelita Leyba Chavez. He grew up in Martinez town and graduated at Albuquerque High. When he was a little boy, he was active and ambitious.  His dad called him Clavos. That’s nails in Spanish because he was always hammering nails on boards.

Harry was very independent at a very young age.  He started a paper route at the age of twelve.  He was on his own living in a small house that his father built for his grandmother but she didn’t want to live there, so his parents were going to rent it out, but Harry said, “If my grandmother is not going to live there, I will.” Thus, he moved into the house at the age of 17.  It only had a kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom. Later, he helped his dad build onto it to make it a three-bedroom home.  This is where he continued to live up to the age of 62. During this time, he got married and had 4 children.

He married Jessie Rose Chavez on July 4th, 1964.  While they were courting, Harry bought her a car.  Together they had 4 children:  Charlene, Rosanna, David and Michelle and remained married for 28 years.  Harry would later be blessed with 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Harry was very intelligent and had a high vocabulary. He was a jack of all trades.  He knew a little bit of every thing from electrical wiring on his 1973 pickup truck, wiring his own home, plumbing, carpentry, to politics and current events, all without a college degree. He was a visionary. When he was just 16 years of age, he purchased a one-acre lot up on the far northeast heights on Eaglerock, way before La Cueva High School was even thought of and Paseo Del Norte was a two-lane dirt road. He then later built a house with his dad’s help on that property. Forty-six years later, he traded his house to a builder for a three-bedroom home, where he lived the rest of his life with his son, David.

Harry was a very honorable and patriotic man.  At the age of 20, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the Marine Reserves.  He always wore a U.S. flag pendant and took pride in his duty to vote.  His family has fond memories of their dad taking them on summer vacations fishing and camping, along with their wonderful trips to Alamosa to visit his Auntie Josie and Uncle Llano for the 4th of July holiday.

His children remember him as being a very devoted, thoughtful, and supportive father.  He was always there for them and he always let them know how proud he was of them.  A wonderful expression of his love and care is how he bought each of his children a car for their senior year in high school.  He was a car salesman for over 20 years.  And even though he didn’t have a lot of money, he always kept an eye out for the best car that he could afford for his children.  When he wasn’t able to buy one for his youngest daughter during a difficult financial and emotional time in his life, he saved up money to help her buy her first car.

At the age of 49, he decided to change careers and serve as a bailiff at the 2nd Judicial Court House for Judge Blackmer.  Harry was a hard-working man.  Whether it was a task at home or at work, he was determined to see it through to completion.  For example, there were many times he stayed after hours working with Judge Blackmer to complete a hearing.  He worked at the court house for 17 years until he retired.

There was a dare-devil side to Harry.  In his younger years, he drove numerous motorcycles and cars mimicking stunt-car driving in empty fields around Albuquerque.  In one case, he purchased and then drove and demolished 24 cars in a two-year period.  A feat which he was quite proud of. 

Toward the last few years of his life, when he didn’t feel well enough to go to church, he would watch Mass on t.v. and liked to watch the church services of Charles Stanley.

Sometimes in a big gathering, Harry was a quiet person, but out of the blue, he would say something ironic or coincidental that would make the whole room burst into laughter.  Just a few days before his passing, he said, “We better make plans for the going away party.” referring of course to his own departure.  We are really going to miss him and his good humor.

Harry R. Chavez, age 77, passed away peacefully at home with his son by his side on Thursday morning, November 30, 2017.  Harry was born on June 2, 1940 to Andres and Rafaelita Chavez. He is survived by his daughters Charlene Chavez, Rosanna Jaramillo and her husband Vincent; son David A. Chavez; daughter Michelle Eubanks and her husband Lee; grandchildren:  Matthew Hinojos, Clarissa Chavez, Monique Mowry and her husband Dennis, Celeste Chavez, and Hannah Eubanks; great-grandchildren:  Aubrey Fortuin and Jack Mowry; his brother, Henry Chavez; niece Priscilla Bermudes. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Aaron Hinojos and nephew, Andres Chavez.

He served in the US Marines. Harry worked as a Bailiff for the Second Judicial District Court for 17 years.

A viewing will take place Tuesday, December 5, beginning at 6:30pm at Daniels Family Funeral Services, 7601Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109; the rosary will be recited after the viewing at 7:00pm.  A Mass of the Resurrection will be held Wednesday, December 6, beginning at 10:00am at the Church of the Risen Savior, 7701 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109. Interment will follow afterwards at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102.