Elvira Chavaria Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Elvira Chavaria, a kind, gentle, sweet and generous person, and a loving wife beyond compare, passed away at her Austin home on April 30, 2020. Drawing her last breath at dawn, her spirit filled the sky with warmth and light. As in life, her radiance, laughter, poise and courage touched many, and she will be greatly missed. Born in El Paso, Texas on June 26, 1950 to Jose and Elvira Perez Chavaria, Elvira grew up with her brother Jose Luis and her sister Marta Perez. After graduating from El Paso’s Austin High School, she earned a BA in English Literature and a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Illinois. She later attended and graduated with a MBA from the University of Michigan. During her rich and varied professional life, she worked as a department secretary at the University of Texas El Paso; as a librarian at the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas at Austin; as the Director of the Procurement Outreach Center at El Paso Community College; as Community Affairs Manager for Levi Strauss; and in various positions in IT, marketing and business planning at 3M spanning 20 years, retiring in 2015. While at 3M, she was recognized for her extensive volunteer work and co-founded HOLA, a program highlighting the advantages of diversity and celebrating Hispanic culture. Elvira volunteered for many years at Wooten Elementary, using the Junior Achievement curriculum to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy, as well as teaching Reading is Fundamental (RIF) to bilingual classrooms. Throughout her life, Elvira was also a strong supporter of the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and early childhood education. Elvira met the love of her life, John Baker in the early ‘90s and they married in Central Park on April 27, 1996. Throughout their life, they traveled extensively over 6 continents, having many exotic adventures together, exploring different cultures and lands, and meandering on great walks through beautiful and unforgettable landscapes. During her life, Elvira developed a wide array of culinary talents that were appreciated by family and friends. She delighted in trying new recipes that most often met with approval by her husband, her officially designated food critic. An avid fan of action movies, Elvira also enjoyed reading and watching detective series, especially those set in foreign locales where she had visited. She was a collector of fine art, and her talent for jewelry making later in life showcased her natural aesthetic gifts. Until the last week of her life, she loved taking morning walks and meeting the day with a good cappuccino. Elvira is survived by her husband, John D. Baker; her step daughter, Kelly Cockrell; her granddaughter, Raine Cockrell; her brother and sister in law, Jose Luis and Irene Perez; her nephew, Joey Perez; her nieces Ceci Saucedo and Cindy Calderon; her great and grand nephews and nieces, Eric, Laila and Lexi; Amanda, Riley Jo and Jude; Ryenne and Robby; Isaac, Mathew & JoJo; and her nephew Frank Saldivar and his children, Briana and Tasha, all of whom she dearly loved. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sister, Marta. Elvira’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center who extended her life for over 6 years, as well as the incredible friends and colleagues who loved, prayed and supported her and whose friendship she cherished. A special thanks to John’s extended family, both the Bakers and Chalkleys, who held her close in their hearts, including Joe and Judy Baker, who provided unconditional support and refuge during her treatments in Houston. The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management was instrumental in helping Elvira obtain her MBA. She would be pleased if donations of any amount were made there in her memory. The Consortium is a 501(c)3 dedicated to ensuring the equal representation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in management careers in the business community in the USA. https://cgsm.org/about-us/how-to-donate/ The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management attn: Elvira Chavaria Memorial Fund 229 Chesterfield Business Parkway Chesterfield, MO 63005 A memorial service is planned once larger gatherings are authorized in Austin. At her request, her ashes will be scattered in the Franklin Mountains that surround El Paso.

Elvira Chavaria

June 26, 1950 - April 30, 2020