Tomas Chavez

Loving husband, proud father, doting grandfather and great-grandfather Tomas Chavez lived a full life and has gone to rest with his Holy Father in Heaven. Tomas was born March 26, 1928, in Tortugas, New Mexico, in the back rooms of the T.C. Chavez Grocery Store, which were used as the living quarters of his parents, Tomas and Luisa Chavez. He passed away Sept. 7, 2015, in Salem, Oregon.
The Chavez family was a pioneer family in the Mesilla Valley. T.C. Chavez married the widow, Luisa Smith, and with her four children moved to Tortugas, where they opened T.C. Chavez Grocery Store in the early 1920s. Tomas would work in the store from an early age, helping out with stocking shelves, sweeping floors, bagging groceries and learning how to keep the books and credit ledger.
Immediately after graduating from Las Cruces High School, Tomas joined the Marine Corps and was proud to have served as a World War II era veteran. Completing his tour of duty, Tomas returned to Tortugas and enrolled at New Mexico Agriculture and Mechanical Arts (now New Mexico State University) to study business. Tomas joined Los Conquistadores Club, which served as an avenue for Hispanic students attending NM A&M an opportunity for social involvement in the community. Early on in the club, Tomas spotted a striking female member from northern New Mexico, Rachel Lopez. The two would marry on April 22, 1949, and enjoy the next 66 plus years together. Tomas graduated in 1954 with a BA in business and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve via the ROTC program.
Tomas now began his lifelong career in construction, serving first a foreman for his brothers Alejandro and Catarino Smith building homes, then with his own Chavez Construction, building homes and remodeling, and finally with Stahmann Farms as construction foreman and later purchasing agent. In 1979, Tomas accepted a position with the FHA as a building inspector in the Oklahoma City office and with Rachel moved to Norman, Oklahoma. Tomas retired from the FHA in 1992.
Regardless of where he lived, Tomas was always volunteering with Rachel. They supported their seven children's school careers, serving as officers in PTA, Band Boosters and other endeavors. They took this spirit of volunteering to Oklahoma, where they became members of RSVP upon their retirements. They would work for over 10 years providing rides for seniors to doctor's appointments, shopping trips and church services, as well as delivering Meals on Wheels each Thursday.
Not forgetting their roots, they organized an NMSU Alumni Chapter in Norman, sponsoring pregame tailgates at their home before any Aggie game against OU. In addition, they organized a yearly reunion of the Los Conquistadores Club during Aggie Homecomings as well as serving on the NMSU Alumni Association International board of directors from 1990 until 2008. Tomas was recognized for his efforts at the 2003 Homecoming with the 2003 James Cole Memorial Award for Service.
Tomas was preceded in passing by his parents, Tomas and Luisa Chavez, brothers Alejandro and Catarino Smith, sisters Eva Smith and Mary Lou (Smith) Alvarez, and his beloved son Paul Dennis Chavez.
He is survived by his wife, Rachel; daughters Becky (Mark) Evans of Bakersfield, California, Mary Anne (John) Oller of Lafayette, Louisiana, Teena (Steve) Riley of Salem, Judy (Rocky) Lane of Charlotte, North Carolina, Susan Chavez of Vancouver, Washington, and son Tomas (Adela) Chavez of Kalaheo, Hawaii. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 17 (and 1 on the way) great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
A celebration of life for Tomas will be held at the Morningside United Methodist Church in Salem OR at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 3, 2015. All friends of Tomas are invited to attend and share their memories. Internment of his ashes will at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that gifts be given to the NMSU Aggie Alumni Association.