Mrs. Minerva Chapa, age 77, of West Odessa, TX, and formerly of Mears, passed away Thursday, September 25, 2014. She was born December 13, 1936, in Corpus Christi, TX, to Mauro and Genoveva (Guzman) Gonzalez. Minerva married Santiago Chapa, Sr. on April 4, 1967, in Bay City, MI; they were married twenty-three years before his death in 1990. She was a field worker and a very gracious hostess, inviting anyone to her home. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and sang in the church choir.

Minerva is survived by twelve children, Paula Chapa Leyva of Dallas, TX; Carmen Chapa Escamilla of Bay City, MI; Mary Ann (Tom) Frost of Bay City, MI; Maximo (Lile) Chapa of Ludington, MI; Rosie Chapa Chandler of Clio, MI; Manuel Chapa of Bay City, MI; Jose Jesus Chapa of Bay City, MI; Jesus Jose Chapa of Dallas, TX; Juan DeRosario (Endiena) Chapa of Shelby, MI; Michelle Chapa Barrer of Odessa, TX; Santiago (Ida) Chapa, Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, MI; and John (Kathy) Tomlinson of Pinnconning, MI. Also surviving are fifty-six grandchildren, eighty-eight great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren, as well as a sister, Olga (Jose) Gonzalez of Corpus Christi, TX; Minerva was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Santiago Chapa; a daughter, Rebecca Chapa; and a granddaughter, Linda Chapa.

The Mass of the Resurrection will be offered for Mrs. Chapa on Friday, October 3, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Weare, with Father Phillip Sliwinski presiding. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at King Funeral Home in Hart, where the Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m.