Aidan James Ortiz

Aidan James Ortiz, 21, of Amarillo passed away on May 5, 2025.

Memorial service will be at 3:30 PM, Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Aidan was born in Lewisville, Texas on April 15, 2004, to James Randy Ortiz and Susan Childers.

Aidan was the kind of person who found meaning in the real things—family, hard work, the outdoors, and the satisfaction of doing something with his own two hands. He didn’t need fancy words or big gestures to show he cared. He showed up, he helped out, and he gave his time and energy to the things and people that mattered most to him.

Aidan always had a passion for working with his hands. He was drawn to anything mechanical, especially cars and diesel trucks. The satisfaction of getting a machine back to life lit him up. He was proud of that kind of work, and he had every right to be. He was always knee-deep in a project–whether it was turning wrenches under the hood of a truck, building his own computer system from scratch, or taking a perfectly working item apart just to put it back together again. He could spend hours under a hood, focused, determined, completely in his element. His hands were often covered in grease, his jeans always dusty and worn from kneeling beside vehicles, and his grin beaming when something finally worked the way it was supposed to.

When he wasn’t outside or elbows-deep in a project, Aidan loved gaming. He found connection through gaming–a world where he could be competitive, creative, and close to his friends, even from a distance. It gave him space to unwind, laugh with his friends, and challenge himself in a different way. He balanced the digital world with the physical, the fast-paced with the slow and steady, making him unique. But no matter where he was–online or outside, with a controller or a fishing pole in hand–he was always himself: loud, loyal, and full of heart.

Fishing was another place Aidan found peace. It was one of the ways he spent time and connected with his family and the world the most. He found peace sitting and casting while talking and laughing with those closest to him, and such joy in the thrill of the catch. Being outdoors, Aidan was at his happiest.

Aidan’s life, though far too short, was rich in love and in meaning. He laughed loudly, worked hard, and gave fully to those he loved. He was the kind of person that didn’t need to be the center of attention to make an impact - his presence was steady, unforgettable, and irreplaceable. He didn’t need a spotlight; he found joy in the everyday, in the work, and in the people he loved. He left an impression on everyone he met–not by trying to, but by simply being himself. He leaves behind a legacy of love, craftsmanship, and the kind of goodness and love that will never fade with time.

Aidan is survived by his parents, Susan Childers, Tripps Childers, James Randy Ortiz, and De’Zarae Ortiz; his siblings Christina Davila, Devon Ortiz, Aly Ortiz, Vivianna Ortiz, and Violeta Ortiz; and his grandmother, Sylvia Davis.