Remembering Leo: A life lost to COVID-19

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - For many families, COVID-19 has hit close to home.

Esmeralda and Jazmin Chavez, the daughters of Leodegario (Leo) Chavez, are mourning the loss of their father who passed away last week.

"He'd tell us, 'echale ganas,' like keep going. Don't stop. You got this," Esmeralda said.

The two daughters say he was a father, husband, brother, son and friend to many in the community. He worked for a local company where he stayed in Yuma in the winter and traveled to Santa Maria, California in the summer.

On June 27, Leo first experienced minor symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and headache. Due to his symptoms, he was tested at a clinic on July 2. While awaiting results, Leo was put in a Motel 6 in Santa Maria, California to be isolated.

On July 6, Leo and his family found out he had tested positive for the coronavirus. The same day, Esmeralda reached out to her father hoping to hear his voice.

"I called him and he didn't answer, and I just figured he was asleep or taking a shower or something," Esmeralda said.

Jazmin says he even had trouble holding the phone up to his ear.

"On the days that were more closer to the day he died, I could definitely tell that his breathing was labored, and you know, phone calls would get shorter," Jazmin said.

The following day their mother, Leo's wife Mariaedith, made several phone calls to him in the morning.

"There were paramedics that were called, and I guess my dad was, you know, he had already passed," Esmeralda said.

One thing the daughters know is he will never be forgotten.

"He was always full of life," Esmeralda said. "He was always dancing and singing, and he loved to joke around."

The family has created a GoFundMe for donations.