Obituary for Yolanda "Jolly" Chavez
Yolanda “Jolly” Chavez
Yolanda was born on June 11th, 1941 in Albuquerque, NM to Christian and Estefanita Sandoval. She grew up in Dalia, NM and later Tucumcari, NM. A mispronunciation of “Yoli,” her family’s nickname for her, led to the name that she would be known by for the remainder of her life- Jolly. The people who knew her well could attest that this was the perfect nickname for her.
Although she originally aspired to become a foreign missionary, God had another mission field planned for her. It was in Tucumcari where she met her future husband, Pablo, at a Bible study. Pablo and Jolly were married on January 5th, 1958. Together they had seven children Ronnie Chavez (Connie), Cecil Chavez, Patti Bell (Kenneth), Ben Chavez, Bill Chavez (Monica), Maxine Roberts (Jim), and Matthew Chavez (Terri). Pablo and Jolly were married for 52 years until his passing in 2010.
They had 15 grandchildren: Brandon Bell, Brian Chavez (Kendra), Sonja Chavez (Jay), Marc Bell (Tonya), Jason Chavez (Becka), Tiffany Chavez (Felix), Savannah Chavez (Zack), Seth Chavez, Jonathan Chavez, Jordan Chavez, Danielle Chavez, Brandon Knowles (Alex), Kendra Lyles (Clint), Lucas Chavez, and Ryan Chavez. They also had 16 great-grandchildren: Zachary and AJ McElroy, Moses & Isaac Chavez, Jared (Izzie) and Mariah Apodaca, Stephen and Saige Salas, Julian, Joshua, and Joseph Chavez, Jade and Sienna Baca, Gabriela and Diego Bell, and Hadleigh Lyles. They also had one great-great-grandson: Ryder Apodaca.
Jolly had 10 siblings: Christian (Manuela), Max, Irene (Joaquin), Felix (Carlotta), Manuelita (Jose), Henry (Christine), Navor (Mildred), Juanita (Eloy), Phillip (Margie), and Gilbert (Victoria).
Jolly was a housewife and worked in the restaurant industry for many years. However, her true passion was serving in her church. No matter where they lived, she was led to volunteer wherever needed at her church whether as a secretary, treasurer, Sunday school teacher, or custodian. She followed what was written by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:10 and led her husband and children in doing the same: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
A memorial service for Jolly will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 19th at River Fellowship Church in Amarillo. (5211 Bell St.) Everyone is welcome to join the family in remembering her life here on earth and celebrating her joyous new life with Christ.
Yolanda was born on June 11th, 1941 in Albuquerque, NM to Christian and Estefanita Sandoval. She grew up in Dalia, NM and later Tucumcari, NM. A mispronunciation of “Yoli,” her family’s nickname for her, led to the name that she would be known by for the remainder of her life- Jolly. The people who knew her well could attest that this was the perfect nickname for her.
Although she originally aspired to become a foreign missionary, God had another mission field planned for her. It was in Tucumcari where she met her future husband, Pablo, at a Bible study. Pablo and Jolly were married on January 5th, 1958. Together they had seven children Ronnie Chavez (Connie), Cecil Chavez, Patti Bell (Kenneth), Ben Chavez, Bill Chavez (Monica), Maxine Roberts (Jim), and Matthew Chavez (Terri). Pablo and Jolly were married for 52 years until his passing in 2010.
They had 15 grandchildren: Brandon Bell, Brian Chavez (Kendra), Sonja Chavez (Jay), Marc Bell (Tonya), Jason Chavez (Becka), Tiffany Chavez (Felix), Savannah Chavez (Zack), Seth Chavez, Jonathan Chavez, Jordan Chavez, Danielle Chavez, Brandon Knowles (Alex), Kendra Lyles (Clint), Lucas Chavez, and Ryan Chavez. They also had 16 great-grandchildren: Zachary and AJ McElroy, Moses & Isaac Chavez, Jared (Izzie) and Mariah Apodaca, Stephen and Saige Salas, Julian, Joshua, and Joseph Chavez, Jade and Sienna Baca, Gabriela and Diego Bell, and Hadleigh Lyles. They also had one great-great-grandson: Ryder Apodaca.
Jolly had 10 siblings: Christian (Manuela), Max, Irene (Joaquin), Felix (Carlotta), Manuelita (Jose), Henry (Christine), Navor (Mildred), Juanita (Eloy), Phillip (Margie), and Gilbert (Victoria).
Jolly was a housewife and worked in the restaurant industry for many years. However, her true passion was serving in her church. No matter where they lived, she was led to volunteer wherever needed at her church whether as a secretary, treasurer, Sunday school teacher, or custodian. She followed what was written by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:10 and led her husband and children in doing the same: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
A memorial service for Jolly will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 19th at River Fellowship Church in Amarillo. (5211 Bell St.) Everyone is welcome to join the family in remembering her life here on earth and celebrating her joyous new life with Christ.