Macaria Chavez

On Sunday, April 23, 2023, Macaria Castilleja Arguello Chavez, 98, of Midland, Texas, formally from Big Spring, Texas, died peacefully surrounded by her family in a local hospital.  Heaven gained another Angel.

Macaria was born on March 10, 1925, in Waelder, Texas to Juan Arguello and Andrea Castilleja.  Being the second eldest daughter of a large family of migrant workers, she quickly learned to drive a tractor and a truck at a very young age. The family traveled and resided in various places of Texas where they hoed and picked cotton, plus potatoes, but her favorite place at a very young age was when they lived in Waelder, Texas.  Being from a large family, mom often took care of her younger siblings when her parents went back to visit relatives in Mexico.  The family later moved to a farming area near Stanton, Texas and it was here that Macaria met her future husband, Camilo.

Macaria married Camilo Chavez on October 18, 1947 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Big Spring, Texas. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before our dad passed.

Mom spent her early married years being a housewife and focusing on her children’s education.  She attended PTA meetings and along with a good friend would also go on the school field trips. At one point, she gathered several of her “comadres”, relatives and along with the cafeteria workers at Big Spring High School they made a huge batch of tamales for the school band fund raiser.   Though mom did not receive much formal education, she taught herself to read and write in both Spanish and English.  She loved reading religious books and read the newspaper on a regular basis.

Mom along with our dad instilled in the family the importance of family, prayer, faith, and love of God through church service and service to others.  She was involved in the Guadalupanas organization at Sacred Heart Catholic church, a lector for the Cursillistas, and helped organize the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) for St. Thomas Catholic Church which dad and she chaperoned. When they moved to Midland, they became parishioners of St. Ann’s Parish and also attended prayer meetings at Our Lady of Guadalupe.  In the past few years, when she found it hard to attend church, she continued a daily listening of the mass and rosary through the use of Alexa.  Even though, there were times when she stated, “that lady (Alexa) doesn’t understand me very well.”  Mother had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We would also like to say “Thank you” to all the priest that knew her.

Macaria’s favorite enjoyments were many.  She enjoyed cooking, especially for her family. She could take anything from scratch and make it a delicious meal.  It was only recently that she stopped making homemade tortillas.  From a very young age, she began to love gardening.  She could grow mostly anything from a seed or a cutting.  Her garden was always full of colorful vibrant flowers, but especially the aroma of roses.  She gladly shared her knowledge of plants with anyone who asked her.

Both mom and dad enjoyed traveling.  At the youth of their marriage, they traveled back to their home roots of South Texas showing their children the places where they had lived. Plus, the whole family and often aunts, uncles and cousins, traveled to places such as Sabinas, Leon Guanajuato and Mexico City to visit distant relatives.  It was in one of these visits the family was fortunate to attend activities at the Olympics being held there.  In the late 80’s, when her son was stationed outside Madrid, Spain, mom and dad were able to spend their 40th wedding anniversary in Madrid, Barcelona, and Toledo Spain.  They relished the visit to the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes France.  Mom was able to return to Rome in her 80’s while her son was on sabbatical with a tour group.   Mom also liked having a fun time gambling in Las Vegas and traveled to Myrtle Beach to visit her granddaughter who was at the time stationed in North Carolina.

Another favorite pastime for mom was the love of shopping, but being short in stature, the family often lost her.  Dad would always say that he should tie a balloon on her so he could easily find her.  She had a good time finding “sale” items and easily coordinated them to match and look well dressed.

Mom also spent her companionship on a continuous basis with her canaries and two cats (Nena and Winsy).  They accepted each other with ease, tenderness and love. Mom also had recently bought a Percheron horse (Named “Azuelita”) because as a young lady she rode horses at her grandfather’s ranch in Mexico. She had a love for horses.  Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Ryon and Melissa Wash of Alpine, TX.

Her biggest enjoyment was the time spent with her family, particularly, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She even learned how to use Alexa, though there were times she had arguments with it.  From time spent with them in person to facetime, her great-grandchildren brought a gleam of sunshine to her face.  They always gave her a great boost to her spirits.  The beauty of it too is the great grandchildren learned the nursery rhymes she recalled as a child and unconditional love of a great-grandmother that will be instilled in their hearts.

Survivors include her son, Father Frank Chavez; her daughter and son-in-law, Jake and Janie Balderrama; her son, Camilo Chavez – all of Midland, three grandchildren – Angelique Guardiola of Azle, Texas; Jake III and Amanda Balderrama of Midland; and Mark and Bianca Khan of Augusta, Georgia; eight great-grandchildren – Eli Guardiola III, Brynden Guardiola, Ayden Guardiola and Olivia Brielle Truesdell, all of Azle, Texas ; Louie Balderrama, Camille Balderrama of Midland; Adrian Khan and Emily Khan of Augusta, Georgia. Plus, two brothers – Juan Arguello of Big Spring, Texas and Ysidro Arguello of Midland, Texas.  Others family members include several sisters-in-law, plus, nieces, nephews and their families, along with close friends.

Macaria is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters – Cleofas Garcia, Guillerma Minjarez, Licha Marquez, Frances Valles and Mary Marquez; her brothers – Cruz Arguello, Guadalupe Arguello and Bonifacio Arguello; and a son, Jesse Chavez (stillborn).

Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel.  Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 1, 2023 at San Miguel Catholic Church.  Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.  Pallbearers will be Jake Balderramma III, Eli Guardiola III, Brynden Guardiola, Ayden Guardiola, Gustavo Arguello, and Dustin Cody Grado.

The family would like to give special thanks to our mom’s neighbors who treated her with much respect and love; St. Joseph’s Home Health, especially Delma Chavez, plus the nurses – Misty Olvera and Ana Hidalgo. Also – Thank you Dr. Stephanie Kubacak and staff from Odessa and Dr. Guy Wells, M.D. from Lubbock.  In addition, a special thanks to all those who became mom’s friends in her later life or who took the time to say a few words – this meant the world to her – the golden years are not the time to disappear, but the time to empower others with the wisdom and love you share and leave behind.  THANK YOU!

For those wishing to send a memorial in honor of our mother, please do so to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and/or your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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