Samuel "Sammy" Lopez Chavez

SAMUEL SAMUEL "SAMMY" LOPEZ CHAVEZ, 73, our dearly loved husband, father and grandfather, left us and entered eternal life to be with his Heavenly Father on November 24, 2018. Sammy was born December 5, 1944 in Las Cruces to Guadalupe and Julian Chavez. As a young man he enjoyed playing baseball, hitting homeruns and working on the farm alongside his father and brothers. He retired from NASA at the age of 71 after 17 years of service at White Sands Test Facility; he enjoyed his work, contributing to the Shuttle Space Program. He also enjoyed playing basketball every day at lunchtime with his co-workers.
Sammy married the love of his life, Josie Mayers Chavez, and was married for 56 years. Josie shared that, "He was my beginning and my end." They raised three children and loved their four grandchildren endlessly.
Sammy was the pillar of strength. Those who were blessed to know our father will agree that he was loving, kind, giving and unselfish, and had a gift of making others feel so vital. He found goodness in all and was loved and respected by many.
Sammy's sunshine was the smile he always had and shared with all of us. His radiance glowed through his eyes and his happiness shined from his heart. He enjoyed the outdoors…hunting, working on his farm, in his pecan fields, driving his tractors, and the smell of fire burning just as the sun was setting. His greatest love and joy was his family, spending time with his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. He most certainly loved shooting hoops in his backyard with his grandchildren and to this day, beating them every game.
Those left to mourn his passing is his wife, Josie M. Chavez; son, Samuel James Chavez; daughters, Laurie Renee Mullan and her husband, Dr. Robert Mullan, and his youngest daughter, Cheryl Mayers Lombardi and her husband, Louis Maximo Lombardi; as well as his four grandchildren, Brittany Chavez, Tyler Chavez, Ronnie Tate and Louie Lombardi. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Sammy will be remembered for his honesty, kindness, generosity and love. Most remembered will be his smile that radiated every precious quality his was know for.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Cathedral of Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1240 S. Espina. Inurnment of cremains will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery where he will be laid to rest.
Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels, and Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, Las Cruces - 575-527-2222. For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com.