Francisco "Frank" Chavez
Francisco “Pancho” or “Frank” Jose Chavez, born Oct. 4, 1944, a longtime Moses Lake resident passed away Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at home after a courageous battle with prostate cancer.
Frank was born in Eagle Pass, Texas and moved to Washington state at the age of 25. There he took automotive mechanics classes and worked in the agricultural industry. His best memories were spent on the tractor while working for Heilig Farms in Moses Lake. He truly enjoyed working the land, maintaining and driving tractors and driving loaded trucks to the shed. He said he felt the most at home on the tractors and often looked forward to Jerry’s calls to work potato harvest after he retired.
He later moved to the Grant County Sheriff's Department as a correctional officer. In his later years, prior to retirement, he worked for the Washington State Department of Corrections, both on the state work crew and as a member of the response team at Coyote Ridge Correctional Center in Connell, Wash., earning the distinction of Correctional Officer of the Year one year.
Frank enjoyed traveling, horseback riding, zip-lining, river rafting and rooting for his beloved Dallas Cowboys alongside his wife. They often took road trips home to Eagle Pass to visit family. In 2021, Frank and Kathy fulfilled their lifelong dream and moved home to Texas. He enjoyed writing stories, featuring Julian, his favorite character, and writing poetry. He had several of his poems published while working at the Coyote Ridge.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathy, his sisters, Marcela and Norma, his brothers, Jose (Carolina) and Alejandro (Guadalupe), his daughters, Shalyn, Linda, Alejandra and Dolores, his son, Joel, their families, their mother, Juanita, and his stepdaughter, Robin, and her family. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Marcelina, father Jose, brothers Jose and Rogelio, and sister Carolina.
He was a quiet soul, kind-hearted and compassionate, and helped those in need through charitable contributions. If he saw someone in need, he offered what cash he had in his wallet. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In the words of Taylor Dayne, “I’ll always love you, for the rest of my days ….”
Te Amo Mi Amante.
Known as Pancho or Frank by those who knew him, Fancisco Chavez loved working the land and repairing the machines that he operated on farms around the Columbia Basin.