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JOSE EPIFANIO War veteran who was born in Lemitar, NM on March 22, 1924, Jose Epifanio Chavez III, longtime resident of Belen, NM, passed away on March 3, 2012 at age 87 in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He grew up a young cowboy and farmer in Polvadera, NM, then serving as a young man in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression, before enlisting in the United States Navy as a Master Bugler on the USS Gladiator (AM-319) Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. Other duties included serving in the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) which lead to the formation of the US Navy SEALs officially pegged in 1961. Following the Navy he started a long career as a carpenter, teacher, and general contractor in Albuquerque, NM. He married Helen C. Gilbert of Belen, NM in June 1945 and is survived by their three children, Donald Chavez, wife Lucy S. Reyes-Chavez, Mark Chavez, wife Lisa, Camille Chavez-Gabbrielli and husband Massimiliano Gabbrielli; grandchildren, Leticia Chavez-Bourgeois (36), husband David Bourgeois, Joe Chavez (34), Michelle Chavez (34), Larisa Chavez (20), Camila Fajardo (20), Megan Ross, (20), Hunter Ross (18), Ashleigh Ross (18), Ricky Reyes (13), Camlan Chavez (10), Helen Chavez (8), and Jaiden Chavez (6); great-grandchildren, Olivia Chavez (9), Noah Bourgeois (5), Savanna Bourgeois (4), and Gavino Bourgeois (2); his sister Jodi Cowper, brother Gilfred Chavez and wife Priscilla Sanchez-Chavez, and sister Jenny Lucero and husband Silas. He was preceded in death by his father Jose Epifanio Chavez and mother Francisquita Chavez of Belen. He enjoyed outboard boating, fishing, camping and deer hunting with his father, brother, children, and nephews. A Rosary will be held on Thursday March 8, 2012, 7:00pm at French Funeral Home, 111 University Blvd. NE. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 9, 2012 10:00 am at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, Belen, NM followed by Interment at 1:00pm at the National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. Thanks to pallbearers Joe Chavez, Robert Lujan, Ricky Reyes, Richard Brookins, Julius Brookins, and Anthony Brookins.
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