Angie Chavez

Angeline R. Chavez passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

She was born October 2, 1932, at home, in Rowe NM, to Maria and Guadalupe Roybal, the eighth of twelve children.

She was raised in Pecos, a farming and ranching community. Growing up in this mountainous community during the Great Depression and WWII had a profound impact on her thinking and love of life.

She was the May Queen in Pecos in 1948, indicative of her poise and beauty. She first met her husband, Eddie Chavez in 1948 in Hot springs, later to become Truth Or Consequences, while accompanying her younger brother for treatment at the children’s hospital located there. Eddie asked the Priest chaperoning the visit there if he could take Angie to a local dance. The priest agreed as long as she was brought back by 10:00 pm. Angie accepted the invitation but told Eddie that she couldn’t dance and he said that he would teach her how to. That first date brought on a lifelong love of many styles of dancing and changed her plans of becoming a nun.

During High School, she worked at a dude ranch. After graduating from high school, she joined many other women from her community to work at Los Alamos Laboratories. She worked on the earliest electronics and was taught to solder the “pigtail” wiring for detonators for explosive devices. While working at the labs, one of the detonators exploded, injuring several women, including Angie.

While still attending Pecos HS, Eddie proposed to Angie.  Eddie and his family went to the family home in Pecos to ask her parents for permission to marry, as was the custom with Hispanic families. Guadalupe said that he would think about it and give him an answer after a few days. Eddie insisted on getting an answer immediately and her father agreed to the marriage then and there! Angie and Eddie married on December 28, 1952 on a cold and snowy day in Pecos.

Angie and Eddie lived in Albuquerque where Eddie was an APD Police Officer. Angie took in ironing and cleaned houses to help with a patrolman’s income. She made lifelong friends with neighbors on the block and they marveled at how spotless and clean she kept the family home!

In the sixties, the family moved to Panama where Eddie instructed Latin American Police Officers on American Police tactics. Angie stayed home with the kids but was involved in many US Embassy and social functions. The family later moved to Virginia where Eddie completed the instructing assignment. The family was homesick for New Mexico and drove from Virginia, through the south, back home.

She later joined the work force and went to TVI to get additional training. She used her electronics and soldering skills to reenter the growing electronics field. While working, she became a mentor and a second mom for many of the younger employees. The toxic fumes from the solder and solvents used ultimately forced Angie to leave the work force.

Angie and Eddie spent their retirement years surrounded by family and friends. She loved entertaining in their home for holidays and special occasions. She spent weeks before each event decorating and cooking. One of her favorite things to do was to dance and they never turned away from an opportunity to show their dance moves, which they did as long as their health permitted. Angie was a talented artist, painting many pictures for friends and family. She was also very crafty and clever with the mixed media crafts she made and gave away as gifts. Her homemade tortillas and green chili were favorites of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren up to her last days at home.

Angie was an active member of the Blessed Mary Society, Alter Society, Panama Canal Clubs, Forest Service Wife’s Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority Beta Xi Chapter and Bridge player.

Angie was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Eddie; her parents, Maria and Guadalupe Roybal; siblings Cecilia Gonzales and husband Tomas, Steve Roybal, Guadalupita and husband Luis Armijo, Nemesia and husband Bill Wade, Antonia and husband Bill Wood, Mary Brakins and Benito Roybal .

Angie is survived by her children:  Edward Lee Chavez and wife Sandi, Bruce  Chavez and wife Phyllis, and Cynthia Chavez; grandchildren: Gary Chavez and wife Amber, Bill Shrader, Angy Shrader, Andres Chavez and wife Maura, Diego Chavez and wife Elicia; great-grandchildren: Alexander and Brenden Shrader, Mason and Jax Chavez;  siblings: Gilbert Roybal and wife Viola, Connie Quintana and husband Eliseo, Eugene Roybal and wife Helen, and Frank Roybal and wife Dolores; sister-in-law Mary Roybal ; brother-in-law Merced Montoya; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Angie’s Life Celebration will begin with a Visitation on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 10:00 am at Salazar Mortuary located at 400 Third St SW, 87102. Rosary will be recited at 11:00 am. A Catholic Service will begin at 11:30am.  With reception immediately following in the Salazar Event Center. Burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery will take place at 2:00 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Gary Chavez, Bill Shrader, Andres Chavez, Diego Chavez, Mason Chavez, and Alex Shrader. 

Honorary pallbearers will be Angie Shrader, Brenden Shrader and Jax Chavez.  

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the chapel capacity is limited to 50 people--masks are required.

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