Christopher John Cortez

Christopher John Cortez was born on April 12, 1967, in Dimmitt, Texas, the sixth child of Catherine Drerup Cortez and Julian Cortez. During his youth, he lived in Hereford and attended elementary, junior high and high school there. He was an honor student and graduated from Hereford High in 1985. He attended Brookhaven Jr. College in Dallas for one semester, but that was not Chris’s calling. He worked at various jobs and began to work with hardwood floors. He became more than proficient at this craft and was personally called by George & Laura Bush to lay floors at their home in Crawford, Texas and twice at their home in Dallas. Chris was proud of his work and meticulous at his job. He only knew how to produce quality work, for that reason, he was called by such persons as Michael Dell, Tom Kite, Mary Kay Company and numerous other prestigious people. His work took him too many parts of Texas, as well as Virginia, North Carolina and Maine. Chris attributed much of his success to his Hereford High School woodshop teacher, Neal Medlock, who reminded him that “precision, precision, precision” was important to quality work. Chris enjoyed mind-challenging games, like chess, checkers, and brain teasing puzzles.

Besides his work, Chris was extremely proud and dedicated to his daughters, Emma-Dawn and Hope. Just as he loved nature- hunting, fishing, hiking, plants, flowers and minerals- he taught his daughter to do likewise. At a very early age, he taught them how to swim, to fish, how to identify plants, animals, how to handle a gun safely and how to fly a kite. Chris attended the girls’ school activities as often as he could, whether it was an awards assembly, a track meet, or a sweetheart dance. Just as they were his sunshine, he was theirs.

Left to cherish his many memories are his precious daughters, Emma-Dawn Margaret, 9, and Hope Lightning, 7, the girls’ mother, Jessica Cortez, his father-in-law, Frank Caldon, his mother, Catherine Cortez, two sisters; Lisa Lucero and husband, Jimmy of Canyon, and his sister, “mother” and best friend, Julie Cortez of Austin, four brothers; Dave and Ronnie of Tyler, Steve and wife, Margot of Hereford, Vince and wife, Shelley of Austin, Eric and Rhonda of Casper, Wyoming. Also surviving are many nephews and nieces; Matthew, Deron and wife, Melissa, Jeremy and wife, Lyz, Sarah, Erin and companion, Shannah, Sabrina and husband, Justin, Kyler, Ariana, Cameron, Macey, Connor, Kyson, Elijah, Faith, Kennon, Kingstone and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family members.

Just as Chris filled our lives with joy and happiness, there will always be the emptiness that he leaves us at such a young age. WE LOVE YOU CHRIS!!