Manuel A. Chavez went to be with the Lord on November 2, 2008 following a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Daria(Doris)Chavez of 66 years; brother, Rodolfo Rodriguez of Rocklin, CA; sons, Jesus Victor Chavez Sr. (Priscilla) of Utah, Manuel T. Chavez (Christina) of San Juan Bautista, Arthur Chavez (Holly) of Hollister, David P. Chavez (Annemarie) of Michigan; daughters, Nellie Ortega (Bob) of Gilroy, Virginia Ramos (Eduardo) of San Juan Bautista, Becky Chavez of Hollister; 19 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Manuel was preceded in death by his mother, Sixta Amador and sister Felicitas Alvarez.
Manuel was born in Durango,Mexico and came to the United States at the age of 5. He was raised in Texas and Texarkana where he met and married Daria Perez. He served in the U.S.Army during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific, stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he acquired his U.S. citizenship. He was a very proud veteran. In the early 1940’s he settled in San Benito County where he had apricot and walnut orchards. He was retired from farming and from the Ideal Cement Plant both in San Juan Bautista, CA and Laporte, CO. Having lived in Tres Pinos, Holliser, and San Juan Bautista he was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, Sacred Heart Church, Mission San Juan Bautista, and Sunnyslope Christian Church; the I.D.E.S., the Farm Bureau, and a lifetime member of the Leslie L. Garratt Post No.6359 V.F.W. of San Juan Bautista.
Visitation at the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeal Home, 870 San Benito St., Hollister will be on Thursday, November 6th from 12:00 noon to 8:00 P.M. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be on Friday November 7th at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home, burial will follow at the San Juan District Cemetery with military honors provided by the Leslie L.Garratt Post and the Hollister Post No. 9242 V.F.W.
A reception will follow at the V.F.W. Post No. 6359, San Juan Bautista.
Visit www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
