Extracted from The Bandera Bulletin (Bandera, TX)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Jose Angel Chairez, Sr.

Jose Angel Chairez, Sr., died peacefully at his Bandera home on Friday, March 4, 2011.

Born in Lockhart on August 2, 1929, to Jose Chairez and Elvira Aguilar, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas as a young man, where he met and married Annie Mae Zarate. During their marriage, they were blessed with four children.

Mr. Chairez attained the rank of Master Sergeant while enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and, later served his country as a civil servant at various Texas military installations until his retirement. He instilled a great sense of pride in God and country among his children and all who knew him well.

Among his many hobbies and interests, he and his late spouse, Billie Burnum were longtime volunteers and utmost patriotic supporters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1480, the Veterans Administration hospitals and the American Legion. A proud American, Mr. Chairez relished serving in the VFW Post 1480 Color Guard and as an active longtime member spearheaded national holiday celebrations, and fund-raising efforts to benefit the disabled veterans. Most recently, he was a member of the American Legion Texas Post 157. He enjoyed living close to nature in the Texas Hill Country, never far from his hometown of Lockhart. His family and friends share many recollections of holiday gatherings, patriotic holidays and loving companionship at gathering with his children watching “America's Team”, his favorite Dallas Cowboys team, and his vast collection of classic films featuring John Wayne and iconic stars of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Mr. Chairez is survived by his former wife, Annie Mae Zarate Urbanowiez and their four children: son, Joe Angel Chairez and wife, Rebecca Chavarria-Chairez of Dallas; Patricia A. Chairez and husband, Frank Perez; Richard Chairez, and Daniel Chairez and spouse, Nancy of San Antonio, Texas.

“Papa Joe” was a quiet, gentle soul who was dearly loved by his three granddaughters, Deborah Darr, Carina Chavarria-Chairez and Lamar Chavarria-Chairez. A fourth granddaughter, Tiffani Amber Chairez preceded him in death at infancy. Mr. Chairez was also preceded in death by his parents, several siblings and his second wife, Billie Burnum.

The funeral service with full military honors will commence at 1:00 PM on Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church located at 1103 6th St. (830-796-4884) in Bandera, Texas. After the graveside service at the church cemetery, a reception will follow in the church hall.

In lieu of floral arrangements, the family kindly requests that memorial gifts be bestowed to the Disabled Veterans of Texas headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas or St. Christopher's Episcopal Church of Bandera.