Stephen Albert Chavez

STEPHEN (Butch) ALBERT CHAVEZ, Sr., age 67, of Missouri City, Texas, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014. He was born August 2, 1946 in Houston, Texas, at the Jefferson Davis Hospital, then on Allen Parkway, to Tony Chavez and Antoinette Espitia. The Chavez family lived in the neighborhood of the Bonita Gardens, and then later moved to the Colonia Villa, where he spent most of his childhood. There he attended several grade schools including Our Lady of Guadalupe on the corner of Jensen and Navigation. There at Our Lady of Guadalupe he met the love of his life, Angelique Palacios, whom he later was married to for forty-seven years, until her passing. Butch and Angelique had four children, three boys, Stephen Jr., Charles, Michael, and one beloved daughter, Tanya, whom they dedicated their entire life to.

Butch was drafted into the Army of the United States and sent for duty in the Republic of Vietnam. There he served with F Troop 17th Cavalry 196th Light Infantry Brigade America Division as an Electronic Systems Repairmen with additional duties as a Recon Armored Cavalryman. Returning from Vietnam, Butch had several assignments in the USA and Europe. During these assignments he attended several Military Service Schools and the University of Maryland. He retired from the U.S. Army in August 1990 and continued to serve as a Red Cross Volunteer at the Veterans Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Butch was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who will be deeply missed by those who loved him, and by those whose lives he touched.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Angelique Felicitas Chavez, with whom he will be laid to rest. He is survived by his wife, Renee Zucker Chavez; sons, Stephen Chavez, Jr. and his wife Teresa, Charles Chavez and his wife Debra, and Michael Chavez and his wife Nancy; daughter, Tanya Chavez; nine grandchildren, Erica, Alex, Stephen III, Monique, Brianna, Liah, Lauryn, Stephanie, and Diego; one great-grandchild, Ambry; his mother; and twelve brothers and sisters and their families.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit), with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, April 3, 2014, at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, 9009 Sienna Ranch Road, Missouri City, TX, with the Rev. John Rooney, Celebrant. The Rite of Committal will be held at 9:00 AM, Friday, April 4, 2014, at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tanya C. Chavez’s name to http://www.texanacenter.com/base_hh_donate.cfm?Nav=hh_donate