Juan Ernesto Chavez Valerio

Juan Ernesto Chavez, age 81 of Mill Creek, Washington passed away peacefully on June 1, 2022, his beloved wife by his side.

Juan was born to Leonor Valerio and Simon Chavez in Avalos, Chihuahua, Mexico. Chihuahua is where Juan was raised, received his education, and met his wife of 58 years, Maria Luisa Chavez.

In 1969, Juan and Maria Luisa, sponsored by Juan’s cousin, Jesse and Celia Rivas, moved to the United States with their, then, three children. Not long after they bought a home in Marysville, Washington and it’s there that they raised their four children. In Mexico, Juan’s professional trade was in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. In 1970, Juan began working for Weyerhaeuser in Everett, WA. He worked there for eleven year before his cousin, Frankie Rivas, helped him find a job at the Snohomish County PUD. It was there that Juan was able to use the professional skills he acquired in Mexico. Juan retired from the PUD after 28 years of service as the Maintenance Foreman. He was proud of his contribution there and proudly wore his PUD jacket, well into retirement. However, his retirement didn’t last long. One day while on a drive Juan noticed a new facility. He stopped and went inside to take a look. He quickly told the receptionist that he would like to work there. While they did not have any job openings Juan still submitted his application and was hired the next day. Juan spent seven years with the Future of Flight as their facilities manager. Juan didn’t see obstacles he saw opportunities. He would often say “if you snooze you lose”.

Juan was an avid walker. He enjoyed being out in nature, walking, hiking, meeting people and bird watching. On one of his walks he brought home an injured humming bird and nursed it back to health. When Juan released it back into the outdoors the bird didn’t leave his hand. Juan said “time to go” and the bird flew away. Having known hardship Juan was a kind and carrying soul. In his earlier years you would find Juan underneath the hood of a car. He enjoyed trouble shooting and solving mechanical problems. One of his co-workers once said “If Juan can’t fix it throw it away.” It’s with this work ethic that Juan, along with his friend Ray King, developed Simulation Electrical Boards to educate the public on the dangers of electricity. They sold the electrical boards to other public utilities around the country. Most of all, Juan did what he did for the good of the people. A selfless man, Juan was a man of faith and he took walking the talk very seriously. He lived a good life and considered himself to be very blessed.

Juan was preceded in death by both his parents, his brothers Carlos Esqueda-Valerio and Sergio Chavez-Trejo. He is survived by his wife, Maria Luisa, three sons John, Alejandro, Ernesto, his daughter Leonor (Darrin) Moir, sixteen grandchildren, Laurissa, Samantha, Michelle, Max, Dustyn, Shelby, Madison, Gabriella (Al), Ezra (Emily), Jerrica, Alexandria, Olivia, Alexander, Serena, Sierra, and Emmanuel, and six great-grandchildren, Layla, Curtis, Paige, Camryn, Nyjah, and Max Jay.

A private service will be held at Purdy and Walters at Floral Hills in Lynnwood, Washington.

Please visit www.floralhillslynnwood.com to leave your condolences on Juan’s online guestbook.