Sheila Carole (Rosenbaum) Chavez

Sheila Carole Rosenbaum Chavez died August 11, 2021.

Memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, August 14, 2021, at Angel Funeral Home, 2209 S. Arthur Street.

Sheila was born to the late John and LaVerne Rosenbaum in Amarillo, Texas on February 9, 1945. Sheila was a homemaker and delivery driver for a few the local pharmacies from the 70s to the late 90s. She made friends all over Amarillo along her delivery route.

On February 27, 1963, she married Benny Chavez in Clayton, New Mexico, and to this union three children were born. Sheila was a loving mother and grandmother, not to mention she loved her fur-babies too.

Sheila was a twin, and that was a huge part of her identity. She was known simply as one of "the twins" all through school. She always claimed to be the more reserved and bashful one, but once you got her talking, she wouldn't stop and the older she got, the more bold she became.

Sheila and Benny had two boys, Bryan and Ricky, and this meant she had to be one of the boys. She rode a dirt bike, had muscle cars, and kept up with her husband and sons, not thinking twice about it. After years, 17 to be exact, Sheila was blessed with a little girl, and she just knew this was her chance to get to play with bows and dresses. While she did in fact get to dress her daughter like a little princess, she would then have to watch as Christa wore those dressed to play baseball with the neighborhood boys.

Sheila always planned the best birthday parties for the kids with cake, games, and themes galore. Christmas was her favorite holiday - always decorating the inside and outside of the house to the point of making Clark Griswold envious. Handmade stockings for the kids and fresh fudge and peanut brittle were her specialties. She had a heart the size of Texas and was always empathetic to people in hard situations. Because of her big heart, numerous "bonus children" called her Mom or Nana.

If there was one thing Sheila loved ALMOST as much as her children, it was Elvis and George Strait. Concerts were a family affair. Sheila, Benny, and the boys would go see Elvis in concert. Once George Strait made it on the scene the whole family would go to shows. Parents, siblings, kids, nieces, and nephews - everyone would make the trip to Dallas or Amarillo to go see the king of country music. She was notorious for getting the best seats and even letting her daughter take off school so they could all go meet George before his shows. It got to the point that he called her and her sister by that long ago nickname "the twins." He never got a restraining order to our knowledge.

When Sheila became Nana, her whole world changed. First it was Shelby, then Ricky Jr., Selena, and much later Tristan. The grandkids often spent weekends at Nana's house getting to do whatever they wanted. Toys were always all over the house as grandkids and shi tzus ran around. If her kids were special to her, her grandkids were on a whole other level. Dance recitals, baseball and football games, playing cars on the floor - she would do whatever she needed to keep them happy.

Sheila was a god-fearing woman and was adamant about instilling the same in her children and grandkids. If she heard a fire or ambulance siren, you would always hear her say "Jesus be with them". She was always thanking Jesus for that good parking space, even though her daughter would tell her she was sure Jesus had better things to do than save that space for her. One of her bosses would even joke that when she opened the door to the delivery car to get out, you could see all the prayers just roll out.

She is preceded in death by her parents, son Ricky Chavez, Sr., and her ex-husband, Benny, who remained a good friend.

She is survived by her son, Bryan Chavez (Melinda) of Amarillo; daughter, Christa Glasgow (Casey) of Panhandle; twin sister Sheryl Smith of Borger, sister Jan MacKowiak of Amarillo; grandchildren Shelby Cortez, Ricky Chavez, Jr., Selena Chavez, and Tristan Glasgow; and a host of nieces, nephews, and bonus children.

The family would also like to thank Jessica Wilson and Bre'Chauna Ryan, who were dear to Sheila and ensured she was always showered with love and care.

The family suggests memorials to City Church of Amarillo or Panhandle Paws of Hope.