Benny Chavez, Jr.

Benigno “Benny” Encarnacion Chavez, Jr. died December 12, 2019. A memorial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 16, 2019 at Angel Funeral Home, 2209 S. Arthur Street.

Benny was born to the late Benigno and Magdalena Chavez in Amarillo, Texas on December 16, 1939. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1959, Benny specialized in carpet installation and was well-known throughout the Texas Panhandle for his craftsmanship. He would pass these skills on to his children and nephews, many who would start their own careers in flooring installation.

On February 27, 1963, he married Sheila Rosenbaum in Clayton, New Mexico. To this union three children were born. Benny was a loving father who cherished his children. They would often go to work with him during the summers.

He was a hard worker, known for powering through in order to get the job done – he was even given the nickname “The Moose” by one of his good friends because of this. In the height of his career there was not a church or hotel in the Texas Panhandle that he hadn’t installed the flooring in. His attention to detail made him highly sought after. It also meant that he would pick apart any mistakes he saw made in other flooring installations – something that he and is brother-in-law, who was in construction, would do as they tagged along with their wives at shopping malls, event centers, or any other place they could pick apart the work. We are sure that Benny and Keith are currently inspecting the flooring and construction work in heaven together.

Benny was not one to sit around. If he was not working long hours, he was finding some project to work on. In his spare time, and maybe with a little child labor from his sons, he added on to their house doubling it in size. You could also find him working on old cars. A 1940 Ford he bought for $50, a 1965 Mustang, some old truck he got from a guy he knew after mowing their field – the projects never ended, and he would always enlist the help of his children. Fetching wrenches, holding a flashlight, whatever needed – they would be right there with him learning all about working on cars.

He was not just about hard work; Benny knew how to have fun too. When his sons were younger the whole family took up dirt bike riding, even appearing in the pages of a dirt bike magazine. Later on, this would turn for a love of Harleys and he and his sons would often ride to the Memorial Day Bike Run in Red River, New Mexico.

New Mexico was a place he truly loved. He often took his children and their friends camping in the Enchanted Circle area.

As the years went on, Benny became a Papa. He loved his grandchildren – taken them to the movies, teaching his grandson to drive a car, working in the garden with them, and playing checkers. His grandkids always knew, Papa loved them very much.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother, and his son Ricky Chavez, Sr.

He is survived by his son, Bryan Chavez (Melinda) of Amarillo; daughter, Christa Glasgow (Casey) of Panhandle; brothers Manuel Martinez of Amarillo and Gilbert Chavez (Donna) of Garland; sisters Dora Fox of Arkansas and Eva Cornell of Amarillo; grandchildren Shelby Cortez, Ricky Chavez, Jr., Selina Chavez, and Tristan Glasgow; ex-wife and dear friend Sheila; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials to Los Barrios de Amarillo.