Christopher Benitez

October 4, 2001 – May 18, 2026

With broken hearts and deep love, we announce the passing of Christopher Benitez, age 24, who left this world on May 18, 2026.

Christopher was born on October 4, 2001, in Nacogdoches, Texas, at Nacogdoches Medical Center and was deeply loved from the very beginning.

He was the kind of person who could walk into a room and shift the entire energy of it. Chris had a presence, loud when he wanted to be, goofy when he could be, and loyal in every way that mattered. He never met a stranger, and he certainly never stayed one for long. If you knew him, you knew laughter was never far behind.

Chris graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 2020, where he dedicated all four years to the SRT program. He later attended Angelina College while continuing to work toward the dream he had held since he was only two years old…becoming a police officer. He was diligently saving money and preparing to attend the police academy, determined to build the future he had always envisioned. At the time of his passing, Chris was employed as a courier with FedEx, he adored his FedEx family.

Outside of work, Chris found joy in the things he loved most. He enjoyed working on cars, spending time with his dogs and taking them on walks, gaming for hours, and immersing himself in anime. He was an avid collector with shelves and spaces filled with things he loved model cars, figurines, swords, and One Piece cards. He also had a legendary sweet tooth, one that became part of his story and left plenty of memories and laughter behind. The amount he spent on candy each week may forever remain a family mystery.

But above all else, Chris treasured his family.

Nothing brought him more joy than being “Tio Chris.” He adored his nephew and nieces, especially if it involved teasing them, joking with them, and loved them in the way only he could: by teasing them relentlessly, joking with them constantly, and calling them names just to get a reaction. It was his way of showing love, and it will be one of the things they remember most about him.

Chris had a goofy spirit and a contagious sense of humor. He loved making people laugh and never took life too seriously. If you got to see his silly side, you were someone special to him. As many would jokingly say, if you didn’t get that version of Chris, he probably didn’t like you.

He is survived by his parents Michael Watson and Shanna Brayall; siblings, Marissa, Chloe, Samantha and Gabian, Daisy and CJ, his sister from another mister Kaitlyn, brother from another mother Corey, and brothers Nathan and Joshua Benitez; his nephew Hayden; nieces Ellianna and baby girl Camarillo; his grandparents Juan and Peggy; his aunts and uncles Rose and Giovanni, Ashley and Alex and uncle Jerome; and cousins Christian, Alyssa, Juliana, Abigail, Alex, Ariel, Audry, Roselynn, Tierra, Tynesha, Buddy, Zack, Valery, Abby and Emma along with countless extended family members and friends who loved him deeply.

Christopher was many things to many people, and this tribute captures him best:

A boy of laughter, a man of grace,

You held a deeply cherished place.

A steadfast brother, fierce and kind,

The truest friend we could ever find.

You were a son, a parents’ pride,

With every joy, you walked beside.

In every tear and every smile,

Your love outlasted time and mile.

Through seasons shifting, bold and clear,

You kept us grounded, kept us near.

Two precious titles, forever spun,

Our dearest brother, our loving son.

Though our hearts are shattered and our lives forever changed, Christopher’s love, laughter, and spirit will continue to live on in every memory, every joke, every late-night game, every handful of candy, and every life he touched.

Chris never said goodbye.

So as he would say…

“Later Losers!”