Jesus "Julio" Tavison

Julio Tavison, 96 of Safford AZ, died peacefully from natural causes at his home on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Julio was born on April 12, 1926, to Crispin R. & Maria Tavizon in Morenci AZ. Before graduating from Clifton High School in his senior year, he was drafted by the US Army on January 26, 1945, and served until November 14, 1946. Being Honorably Discharged he returned to finish High School and graduated in 1947. After graduating from high school, Julio was employed by Phelps Dodge Corporation in Morenci, AZ, and worked in the Surface Dept. He transferred to Mill operations as a laborer and worked his way up to Crusher Shift Supervisor, he was offered a supervisor position in the newly opened Metcalf Mill as a Mill Shift Supervisor where he stayed until his retirement on May 5, 1989. He met the love of his life Maria Esther Espinoza on a blind date in 1948, and valiantly for months tried his best to win her heart. He was successful, and they were married on September 17, 1949. Their marriage would give birth to five children. Philip, Reynaldo, Esther, Celia, and Patsi. Julio was an avid outdoor person, he enjoyed playing golf, playing in the Clifton town baseball team, camping, fishing, traveling, and hunting. His unending devotion to his Catholic faith as a parishioner, his family, and his communities stayed with him until his passing. He wore many hats in his lifetime, as a Catholic Catechism instructor, Scoutmaster, Councilman, Mayor, and Parade Grand Marshall. Julio is predeceased by his father and mother Crispin & Maria Tavizon. His wife Esther Tavison, sisters Santos Perez and Luz Martinez, and brother Raymond Tavison. He is also preceded in death by his daughter Esther Jackson, twin granddaughters Jeniffer Nicole & Kristen Michelle Rodriguez, great-grandson Christopher Robert Morales II, and great-granddaughter Gabrielle Nicole Tavison. Julio is survived by brothers Henry Tavison, Sr and Martin Mendoza both of Phoenix, Philip Julio and Amal Tavison of Phoenix, Reynaldo Tavison of Tucson, Celia Anita Tavison and Brian Rains of Clifton, Patricia Alicia, and Joseph Perez of Safford, Sarah Marie Tavison, Norfolk, Virginia, 33 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, and 15 nephews and 21 nieces. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 29th, from 6-8:00 p.m. at McDougal’s Funeral Chapel in Safford AZ and then again on Thursday, March 30th at 9:00 a.m. followed by the Recitation of the Rosary at 10:00 with the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Clifton, AZ. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Morenci, AZ. Services are under the direction of McDougal's Caldwell Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/ Click this link to view additional details about Jesus "Julio"'s Services, including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/jesus-julio-tavison