Cover photo for Frank Chavez (Poppy)'s Obituary
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Frank

Frank Chavez (Poppy)

d. December 28, 2020

Frank “Ernie” Chávez (Poppy), of Albuquerque and Los Alamos, passed away on December 28, 2020 at home, with his wife of sixty years by his side.

He was born on February 13, 1935 to Gertrude Zimmerly Archuletta in Socorro, NM.

Frank married Ruth Alarid on July 30, 1960 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Albuquerque, NM.  They had three children, Michael, Craig, and Janice.

Frank was preceded in death by his mother Gertrude Archuletta, his parents-in-law Jesus and Aurelia Alarid, his son Michael, and his cousin Elaine Russell, who was like a sister to him.  He is survived by his wife of sixty years Ruth Alarid Chávez, his son Craig Chávez and wife Venita, his daughter Janice Chávez-Romero, and his son-in-law Ken Broussard.  He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Allison Keys (bestower of the name everyone knew him by, “Poppy”) and husband David, John Michael Romero and wife Eva, Jessica, Krista and Nolan Romero, and Lucario and Elise Chávez.  The thing he loved most in life was being with his family and this included bringing them fast food orders of his choosing to share as a family, regardless of what they had ordered when he asked what they would like to eat.  He was just taking a survey.  He enjoyed attending any game, activity, or event that involved his grandchildren.

Frank lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico from a very young age.   He graduated from the University of Albuquerque and attended the University of New Mexico making him a lifelong Lobo.  He worked at Sandia National Laboratory, the City of Albuquerque, and the University of New Mexico.  He loved watching sports on television and attending local sporting events including the Albuquerque Dukes, the New Mexico Scorpions, the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, the Albuquerque Isotopes, and especially the Los Alamos Hilltopper baseball and basketball teams (2015-2020), and the University of New Mexico Lobos.   A highlight of 2020 was watching the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series with his family.  His favorite professional football team was any team playing the Dallas Cowboys.

Frank loved his little dog Brownie, who was always by his side, and he didn’t care what Trump said about Brownie knowing “everyone wants to be like Brownie”.

A celebration of the life of Poppy will take place at a later date when it is safer.

The family of Frank Chávez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477-www.devargasfuneral.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Frank Chavez (Poppy), please visit our flower store.

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