it was so very nice to see your dad with mine.  just know they have found one another... again.  love you family, Teresa Paiz Felts (Uncle Juan's middle daughter)

Perfecto Gurulé,
grandfather to Steven Paiz
Santo Domingo Indian Trading Post
circa 1954

Steven Paiz,
walking in the steps of his grandfather Perfecto Gurulé.
Santo Domingo Indian Trading Post
2023

Steven Paiz with family
Feast of Saint Dominic,
Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo Pueblo)
2023

God-Parents of Steven Paiz
Cipriano Chavez & Manuelita Chavez. 
Pueblo de Cochiti, 
circa 1920

This is one of my most favorite photos taken about 1942-1943.  It’s my mother Dolores & twin brother Clemente, & younger brother Esteban (Steve) Paiz.  There’s a story about the guitar in the picture.  Tio Clemente was going to WWII & left Steve the guitar.  Tio carried that guitar until his early adult years.  I remember one incident  Tio was about 18 years old &  living at home with Gramma Estella, across town in Bakersfield. . .In the wee hours of the morning, Tio showed up at our door, woke up my parents & scared my mom to death when she saw him.  She didn’t know what to think.  Tio was all sweaty & shaking.  Was he hurt?  Did someone die?  Tio come in, my Mom & Dad tried calming him down so he could tell them what happened.  It had to be serious, because Tio ran over four miles to our house because Gramma didn’t have a phone, my Mom thought the worst.  So Tio calmed down & the rest is part of Tio’s legacy. . . Tio Steve & his friends had gone to Shafter, a small town out side Bakersfield,  to meet up with some guys in Shafter for a jam-session.  It got late and the driver lost track of time and  had to hurry and get back into town.  The guys drop off Tio & he panics realizing he forgot his “beloved guitar.”  His friend drives off, so there’s no way to go back to Shafter.  No one else he knows has a car, then he thinks of my Mom. . .In the wee hours of the morning he runs to our house to make a desperate attempt to get a ride back to Shafter and find his guitar.  After waking up & scaring my parents to death, they did get angry but the love my Mom had for her little brother and knowing how hurt he was because she knew that he  “loved that guitar,”  she hugged him & reminded him that she would always be there for him no matter what.  So Mom warmed up the car and they headed out to Shafter. . .Mom taught us that no one is perfect & that we should always show love, concern & never turn our back on family, even in the wee hours of the morning. . .

May his memory forever be a blessing to his children, family, friends, and all those touched by the light of his life, and may his light always shine on through us all. 

Rest in peace great uncle Steve.

My prayers and thoughts are with you at this most difficult time. God Bless you!

Janie Paiz Ortega (Daughter of Juan Paiz)

Rosie, Taffy and Karen  from the most deepest of my heart I’m so sorry for your loss. I pray for you and all your family that our Lord God will give you the strength and understanding and the memories that you all have as I do. My Tio was a good man and hard working till the end .I remember his laughing as he would imitate the Three Stooges and I’d join in and both of us ended up with such a big laugh, he was a kind tío.  I loved him so much as my mom ( Helen Paiz Perea) to her he was her “mijo” when he’d go over to visit with us mom would ask him are you hungry mijo?and without an answer she’d start making chile colorado, beans and fresh homemade tortillas he never left our home hungry and mom at times would slip him a $20 in his pocket for “ just because”. He in his later years looked and reminded me of  papa so much that at times I would call him just that “papa “ a man that didn’t like the rain cause that meant he had to stay indoors he loved to be outside cleaning a yard that didn’t need cleaning but to him it needed cleaning. Well Tio now your gonna rest  with God and mi Tia Ernie and with grandma and papa and  mom and mi Tio Clemente and all your family. I Love You Tio. I will keep my eyes on the girls. ♥️♥️♥️. I will never ever forget you😇

OBITUARY

Stephen Juan Paiz

15 June, 1935 – 28 March, 2024

Lisle Funeral Home

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