Gregorio Guevara

Gregorio “Greg” Guevara Jr, 83, departed this life peacefully on January 27, 2022, following an extended illness and final swift kick from COVID.

He was born May 26, 1938, in San Antonio, TX to the late Gregorio Guevara, Sr., and Guillerma “Emma” Guevara.  He grew up in Corpus Christi, TX.

At the young age of 16, Greg heard the call of the US Navy where he would serve 20 years retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 1975 before they sent him to one of “those big gray things” i.e., an aircraft carrier.  Greg loved the Navy and his Navy Brothers.  He took great pride in having served as a Search and Rescue Member and serving on Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) VIP Crew.  Greg was halo-flighted to Nashville twice in his final months and relished his final helo flights despite being sick.

Greg met his wife, Joy, in 1981, in Beeville, TX where they served in Training Squadron Twenty-Four (VT-24).  He as a civilian and Joy as a young Naval Officer.  Joy often said he married her for a second career in the Navy as he followed her for the next 24 years.

Greg lived a blessed and beautiful life full of many seasons.  During has Naval career he obtained his pilots license and enjoyed flying, bass fishing, and camping with his family and friends.  When he met Joy, he had moved on to boating, showing cars on the International Show Car (ISCA) circuit, golfing, and eventually traveling in a Motorhome.  They bought a home on North Padre Island, a barrier island off Corpus Christi, in 1988 and would reside on the Island for the next 26 years.  When they moved to Paris in 2014 it was with the understanding that they would spend winters in Texas.  Greg really enjoyed most of those winters at Llano Grande Resort in Mercedes, TX, and the friends made there.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Joy Key Guevara, of Paris; a daughter, Jill (Jim) Williams, of Lewisburg, WV; two granddaughters, Kelsey (Ben) Canipe, of Fayetteville, NC and Jamie Williams of Lewisburg, WV; a brother, Alfred Guevara of Rio Rancho, NM; a sister, Rosie (Paul) Anzaldua of Corpus Christi, TX; nephews, Al Jr (Becky) Guevara; Robert (Diane ) Guevara and Roland (Griselda) Ramos; and a niece, Monique (Paul) Greenhouse.  Greg felt equally close to his in-laws, who he relied upon greatly after moving to Paris.  He is survived by father and mother-in-law, Paul and Ruth Key; brother-in-law Lynn (Helen) Key; sister-in-law Kathy Key, and nephew, Bob Key, all of Paris, TN.

Due to the current surge in COVID-19 infections, a Celebration of Greg’s Life will be held at a later date, likely Spring, in both Paris, TN and Corpus Christi, TX.  It was Greg’s wishes to be cremated and his final resting place be the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to a charity of one’s choice.