Obituary for Fred Ortiz
Fred Ortiz, 71, of Canyon, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m. at First Family Church in Amarillo, TX, with Pastor Scott Johnson, pastor of Pathpoint Fellowship Church, officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 21, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Brooks Chapel in Canyon, TX.
Fred was born on August 19, 1949 to Rose Comi and Alfred Ortiz in Dragerton, UT, but grew up in Aguilar, CO with two of his sisters, raised by his papa, Con Ortiz. After high school, Fred served as a police officer for 7 years in both Sierra Vista, AZ and Amarillo, TX before spending the next 35 years as a truck driver for Roadway Express and last 10 "retired" years as the friendly face who greeted you at Rockin' R Storage in Canyon.
On May 14, 1976, Fred married Janet Burgess. He said she was the woman he could always "ride the river with" because no challenge was ever too big with her at his side. If you knew Fred, you could probably recite a number of jokes he told. You would know he spent his early mornings with his buddies at the local Donut Stop swapping stories about family, sharing the love of Jesus and arguing about politics over a cup of coffee. Fred was a man of God who had a heart for all. Apart from his own children, Fred was a father figure and mentor to countless individuals he encountered and chose to bless with his love and wisdom.
Fred is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janet Ortiz, 7 children, Lisa Huval of Amarillo, Shane Ortiz of Amarillo, honorary sons, Kelly Williams of Hideaway, TX and Dusty Dove of Big Cabin, OK, Amanda Pope of Canyon, Carolyn Whitt of Hamilton, TX, and Kalyn Kvapil of Rockwall, TX. Fred is also survived by his mother-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren: Booker Huval, Slayde, Stratton, Sage and Stone Ortiz, Hope and Blake Williams, Hayden Pope and Cody and Julia Whitt, as well as many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, plus a lot of grand-pups.
Fred's lasting legacy will be the love he had for others before himself, choosing to bless those he knew and many he didn't. He will be forever missed by those close to him.
Fred was born on August 19, 1949 to Rose Comi and Alfred Ortiz in Dragerton, UT, but grew up in Aguilar, CO with two of his sisters, raised by his papa, Con Ortiz. After high school, Fred served as a police officer for 7 years in both Sierra Vista, AZ and Amarillo, TX before spending the next 35 years as a truck driver for Roadway Express and last 10 "retired" years as the friendly face who greeted you at Rockin' R Storage in Canyon.
On May 14, 1976, Fred married Janet Burgess. He said she was the woman he could always "ride the river with" because no challenge was ever too big with her at his side. If you knew Fred, you could probably recite a number of jokes he told. You would know he spent his early mornings with his buddies at the local Donut Stop swapping stories about family, sharing the love of Jesus and arguing about politics over a cup of coffee. Fred was a man of God who had a heart for all. Apart from his own children, Fred was a father figure and mentor to countless individuals he encountered and chose to bless with his love and wisdom.
Fred is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janet Ortiz, 7 children, Lisa Huval of Amarillo, Shane Ortiz of Amarillo, honorary sons, Kelly Williams of Hideaway, TX and Dusty Dove of Big Cabin, OK, Amanda Pope of Canyon, Carolyn Whitt of Hamilton, TX, and Kalyn Kvapil of Rockwall, TX. Fred is also survived by his mother-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren: Booker Huval, Slayde, Stratton, Sage and Stone Ortiz, Hope and Blake Williams, Hayden Pope and Cody and Julia Whitt, as well as many brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, plus a lot of grand-pups.
Fred's lasting legacy will be the love he had for others before himself, choosing to bless those he knew and many he didn't. He will be forever missed by those close to him.