On December 5, 2023, our beloved matriarch, Lucy Espinoza Chavira, 97 years, went to be with her Lord and Savior. She went peacefully with family at her side at Fort Bayard Medical Center.
Lucy was born in Silver City. She grew up in Hurley and North Hurley, NM. Lucy lived with her mother, Luz Llanos and Tia, Petrita Llanos in the “Penjamo Barrio” in North Hurley. She graduated from Hurley High School in 1947 and was class valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA. Lucy excelled in business classes. Consequently, she was hired as a student employee in the principal/superintendent office. Upon graduation she was hired as the Hurley High School office secretary. Lucy’s career extended for 47 years, for Hurley and Cobre High Schools. She worked with 17 principals during this lengthy career. Lucy was definitely a Hurley and Cobre High School “icon”, especially for all the students who took “office” class.
While at Cobre High School, she worked closely with her co worker and best friend, Teddy Gore. They enjoyed traveling all over New Mexico and United States, attending seminars and secretary association conferences. A friend of the family, Nora Berraga, of Mesilla, NM, said, “Luz was instrumental in attaining better salaries and benefits for all school system secretaries in New Mexico”. Lucy was very active member in her Grant Count Community. For many years Lucy volunteered at the Silver City Museum and Silver City Library. She was selected as member of the Silver City Library Board of Directors. Lucy was a very active supporter and parishioner of the Hurley Infant Jesus Church. She served many years as member of the church finance committee. Lucy could always be seen several times a week with rosary in hand, going to her “second home” for her “vista” visit for daily prayers and recital of the rosary. The church in which she was baptized, confirmed, received her first communion and got married. In 1949 she married Bernardo Baca Chavira, “B.B.”. They celebrated 60 years together. Bernardo designed and built their home in Hurley in 1959. They raised two sons, Eusebio “Chevo” and Art “Tudy” Chavira. Education was very important to Lucy and BB, both sons are NMSU graduates. As a family they traveled extensively throughout the Southwest and California. Every summer, for two weeks they would go on a vacation. In Grant County they spent many years visiting the Gila National Forest, Catwalk, and City of Rocks to name a few. They enjoyed going on a picnic or camping with their extended family, the Manuel and Josie Aguilera from Hurley and Chayo and Lupe Padilla of Deming families. Upon retirement Lucy and B.B. traveled to Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Hawaii. They were usually joined in their travels with their best friends, Prisiliano and Mela Lovato, from California. Lucy and BB enjoyed listening and dancing to all types of music. They were usually the first couple on the dance floor when local bands played a song.
Lucy was preceded in death by her mother, Luz Llanos; her Tia, Petrita Llanos; her husband, Bernardo; her son, Art “Tudy”; her brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Felicitas Chavez; nephews, Robert and Ray Chavez, Jr; her in-laws, Jose and Elena Chavira; her brother in laws, Jose, Roberto, Alberto Chavira; and her grandchild, Lisa Martinez Legarda.
Family members that will miss her dearly include her son, Chevo (Lillian) Chavira; daughter n law, Mary Jo; grandchildren, Paul (Jenni), Francisco Javier, Phillip, Nic, Amari, Fred, Loretta (Rusty), plus eleven great grandchildren, nieces, Edna and Eva Chavira; God daughters, Thelma Aguilera and Yolanda Aguilera Trujillo.
Cremation has been entrusted to Baca’s Funeral Chapels. The family has decided to schedule services in the springtime with details to be announced at a later date.
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