Lee was born November 24, 1928 near Weston, CO to Adolfo and Clorinda Chavez.
He is preceded in death by parents Adolfo and Clorinda (Vialpando) Chavez, In-laws Porfirio and Susie (Torres) Santistevan and eldest son, Joseph Lee Chavez. Sister and brother-in-law Mary and Fred Zamora, brother Max Chavez and infant brother Elias and infan sister Jeanette.
Lee is survived by his wife of 68 years Mary (Nora) Chavez, fou r daughte rs, Janet Gutierrez, Eva (Gary) Bowman, Bernadette Chavez, Nora (Rafael) Perez, and one son, Anthony (Barb) Chavez, F ift e en grandchildren and twentyeight great-grandchildren. From an early age he began working with his dad as a “propero” / logger. This was a common occupation for men who cut logs for the local coal mines. He worked cutting logs from the 1930ʼs to the 1960ʼs. The work was manual and required the use of two-man saws, axes and wagons. For larger logs, draft horses were used to drag the timber. It was his job to harness, shoe and
care for them. From that time forward, he developed a lifetime love of horses.
In his younger years, he worked with local ranchers herding and cutting hay. He enjoyed going on long rides including trips to Vermejo Park and once rode to the top of the Sangre de Cristo range which overlooks the San Luis and Purgatoire Valleys. He greatly enjoyed overnight trail rides with friends in his later years. In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in Korea. Because of hi s experience driving logging trucks, he was assigned to the motor pool where he trained other soldiers. He enjoyed serving his country and told war stories over and over.
After returning from the war, he went back to logging and with the money he earned from t h e war purchased his special car, a 1953 Buick. Fresh from the army and with a new car, Lee met and courted his future wife, Nora Santistevan. They were married and after a short stint in Denver, they returned home and began raising a family in the Trinidad area.
After the logging business had slowed down, he got a job working at the newly opened Trinidad State Nursing Home, where he worked for ten years. The cost of raising a family of eight was financially challenging so he applied for a job at the Allen Mine where he worked until it’s closing in the mid 1980ʼs. . After the mine closed, he worked for Holy Trinity Schools as a custodian and The City of Trinidad Parks and Recreation.
Music was an important part of his daily life especially singing and playing Spanish music on his guitar. Not only did he play the guitar, but also the piano, organ, accordion, and harmonica. Lee eventually retired and continued his pastime of raising horses. Family was the most important thing in his life. He was happiest when his children and grandchildren were at the house visiting. Although he lived a long life of nearly 94 years, he will be greatly missed but we know he is in heaven and at peace.
Pall bearers are Bryan Romero, Pete Bowman, Mike Gutierrez, Raymond Mora, Steven Gutierrez, Pete Grubb. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 pm on Wednesday November 16th at the Comi Funeral Home Chapel. Rosary will be at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church at noon on Thursday November 17th followed by the Funeral Mass at 1 PM. Burial at Trinidad Catholic Cemetery to follow.
Arrangements made under the direction of The Comi Funeral Home.
