Jesse "Chay" Bazan

Jesse “Chay” Bazan Jr. of Amarillo, passed away March 10, 2022. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the University Church of Christ in Canyon with Jim Shelburne officiating.

Jesse was born December 7, 1955 in Gonzales, Texas to Jesse and Helen Bazan. He attended Gonzales High School where he met his soulmate Holly Gale Oglesby their senior year. After graduation, the two moved to Amarillo and were married on June 20, 1975 at Forest Hill Church of Christ in Amarillo. Their marriage sparked the beginning of a couple that showed love in times of adversity, tragedy and victory. Jesse Bazan Jr. was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a son-in-law, a brother-in-law, a father-in-law, a grandfather (whose granddaughters were the apple of his eye), a cousin, an uncle, a friend, a mentor, a deacon and a humble servant and follower of Jesus Christ. JB was a kind, gentle man who loved his family first, but his love stretched further than we will ever know. Jesse and Holly opened their home to family in need and welcomed friends with open arms. Jesse was a hardworking man who made it look easy. He never expected you to work harder than him, because it was impossible to. He was employed at Sutherlands for over 48 years and generations of people came to him for DIY advice. Jesse enjoyed showing and teaching young people how to work with their hands. His hands were important, they built tricycles for school children. His hands made sure all the toys were ready to be played with on Christmas morning. Jesse’s hands fit every tool and every tool worked in Jesse’s hands. But his hands were best when they rested on your shoulder. Chay had a sense of humor, and perfected the cannonball dive. It’s been mimicked, but never duplicated. When Jesse wasn’t working, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, picking up McKenzie from school and having a strawberry shake, watching Aaron play high school football, Kevin on the tennis courts, Gabe playing tennis, Caitlin swimming the backstroke or Tyler swinging the bat. If he couldn’t watch them, he settled for watching the University of Texas Longhorns or Dallas Cowboys. Jesse loved Jesus. But he still had more love to share so he loved family. He still had more love to give so he loved work. He still had more love to give so he loved anyone who needed it. Now, Jesse has love for eternity and he is still going to share it. Jesse will always be remembered.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Helen Grifaldo, his brother Christopher and brother-in-law Mike Perez.

He is survived by his wife Holly; sons Aaron Bazan and his wife Marsha, and Kevin Bazan. His granddaughters Caitlin, Tyler and McKenzie. His siblings Gerald Bazan and wife Linda; Becky Perez, Jamie Bazan, Ricky Bazan and wife Carrie.