Mildred Chavez
Oct. 28, 1929 – April 5, 2017
Mildred Marie Chavez, 87, of Corvallis, formerly of Sweet Home, died April 5, 2017 at Willamette Springs Memory Care in Corvallis.
She was born Oct. 28, 1929 in Healy, Kan. to Christopher and Susan (Heimerman) Stockemer.
She left Kansas at an early age with her family, moving to Colorado, where her parents farmed and raised their 13 children. Growing up in Colorado, she met Clovis Chavez in her teen years and they eventually married on Sept. 24, 1947. During their married life they had three children, Kathy, Gene and Richard.
Mrs. Chavez was a member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Sweet Home and during her years with the church she was active in teaching religious education, in the Women’s Club and helped with many other projects and duties within the church. She also participated in the SMART program, volunteered at East Linn Museum and the Oregon Jamboree for a number of years. She also did babysitting for local families.
Mrs. Chavez was a homemaker, loved gardening, a wonderful cook and enjoyed family gatherings. She and her husband traveled during their years together in various types of RVs. During some of those trips they took their grandchildren and great-grandchildren with them.
Mrs. Chavez is survived by her daughter Kathy and son-in-law Jim, sons Gene and Richard and daughter-in-law Carol; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters Francis, Ann and Martha; and brother Paul.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Clovis; her parents; great-granddaughter Zoe; sisters Barbara, JoAnn, Marcella, Margaret and Evelyn; and brothers John, William and Mathias.
Smart Cremations handled the arrangements.
A recitation of the rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Sweet Home. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m., with a reception after the Mass in the church gathering space. Private interment will take place at Willamette Cemetery, Albany.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimers Association.