Jose Antonio Chavez

Jose Antonio “Tony” Chavez, 79, of Odessa, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Friday, March 28, 2025. He was born on June 24, 1945, in El Paso, Texas to Cipriano Chavez and Consuelo Ochoa.

Tony proudly served in the United States Army reaching the rank of Sergeant. After leaving the Army, Tony served as a Sergeant and Detective in the El Paso Police Department while putting himself through college at the University of Texas at El Paso. He worked the night shift as an officer then went directly to class, graduating in three years. He then went on to earn his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he discovered his passion for practicing law. He was a Shriner and Freemason. Tony began his legal career as the first Mexican American Assistant District Attorney in the Ector County District Attorney's office in 1978. In 1980, he left the DA's office to establish his own criminal defense practice, the Chavez Law Firm. Tony had a profound passion for helping people and serving his community, inspiring his two sons, a nephew and grandson to follow in his footsteps. He will be remembered as a fierce advocate for his clients, devoting his practice and life to fighting for society's most vulnerable. He loved to fight for the underdog, poor and disadvantaged. He gave a voice to those who had no voice. No challenge or case was too big or too small. Despite his fierce advocacy in the courtroom, he was a gentle and loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather. He was loved and admired by many.

Tony is survived by his spouse., Irma Chavez; his children, Brian (Rosemary), Jacob, and Paul; his grandchildren, Claudia, Anthony K., Melissa, Reece, Orion, and Frankie; his great-grandchildren, Aviana, Aralynn, and Anthony D.; his sisters-in-law, Amparo and Rose; nieces and nephews, Connie, Ricky, Louie, Nora, Ronnie, Dini, Missy, Prissy, Fernando, Vinny, Jennifer and Valerie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Cipriano Chavez and Consuelo Ochoa; in laws, Reynaldo and Margarita Perea; brothers, Fred Chavez and Richard Chavez; and his son, Adrian Antonio Chavez.

A visitation for the public will be Friday, April 4th, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Celebration of Tony's Life at 6:00 PM, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Odessa, Texas. Family viewing is scheduled from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Odessa, Texas, Father Chavez will be officiating. A burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.