Arthur Earl Chandler

And so it ends.
Arthur Earl Chandler (Art, Arf) has left the building.

It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing Dad. He died at home, January 20, 2026, bringing an end to a full and wonderful life, a tough few years, and the heartbreaking final months.

Art Jr. was born to Art and Wilma Chandler in April 1955 (and according to his sisters, was immediately dubbed “our favorite child”). Raised in Tacoma, he graduated from Bellarmine Prep and Tacoma Community College before making his final home with Cat and their children in Kent, WA.

He grew up on his grandfather’s knee drinking coffee from a saucer and reading encyclopedias (a budding history buff). Art was a hard-working man with deep dedication to his family. He was compassionate, interesting, loving, attentive, and hilarious. Art always had a good story for you. He came of age in the very best time to grow up with the best music, muscle cars, and fun kegs.

Art met the love of his life in 1971 at Lake Cushman resort when he had just turned 16. He is with her every day in her memories and in her heart, in their children and grandchildren, in all the things that they used to do, and all the things that they’ve built together. He was the most amazing dad and grandpa, Cat’s best friend, her rock, her guiding light, and her world. They got through the tough times and the good times were better because they had each other. They had truly joyful years of the deepest love, happiest marriage, and truest partnership imaginable.

Whenever the family got together, you could find Art at his grill. He was known for his smoked turkeys - smoke billowing from the Chandlers’ backyard could be seen for multiple days at Thanksgiving time when he spent the weekend brining, grilling, and carving at least 75 pounds of the big birds. All our birthdays included his signature Caesar salad. His love of hosting big Thanksgivings (wall-to-wall tables and chairs) was only surpassed by his joy for 4th of July celebrations at home. Art loved the happiness and excitement of us all being together, especially insanely long strings of firecrackers, and the loud booms, whooshes, whistles, sizzles, and crackling pops of our pyrotechnics show!

He traveled to every place that he ever wanted to go, which was Las Vegas. He was fond of reminding us that anywhere worth going, he could go to in Las Vegas (or was it anywhere worth visiting he could find in Las Vegas?)

Art was a builder (the cabin at Lake Cushman, ComfortVans), electrician, musician (playing at Court C in Tacoma), truck driver (for the Alaska pipeline and vactor), inventor, commercial real estate salesman, cable installer, handyman extraordinaire, and a patient instructor (teaching his kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews how to drive and how to play chess).

Art was our "go-to" when life got rough, our sanity in this crazy world, and our comfort when we needed clarity. He provided sound advice on everything from gambling to fixing stuff. We thank him for the love he gave us and the beautiful lives we've lived because of him, his hard work, and his boundless love for us. We are all better people because of him. Art will be fiercely missed. We will forever keep him in our hearts.

He loved his family more than anything else in the world, except maybe …
Las Vegas, Johnny Walker black label (not red!), a rare steak, a decent wine (reds only!), classic rock, Lake Cushman, spam (from a can), cold Henry’s, his dad jokes, flamingos, the Winter Olympics, dogs, road trips, James Bond and Airplane! movies, his .44, his 1954 Jaguar, Sundays with football on the tv, and snow (especially if he could ski on it or at least drive in it). Not necessarily in that order.

He hated vegetables, hypocrites, and spam (unsolicited communication). Not necessarily in that order.

We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to Dr. Eddie Marzbani and his nurses at NW Fred Hutch Cancer for their constant and compassionate care.

Art faced each day with remarkable bravery, strength, and courage. He never complained. This was his 5th bout with cancer before succumbing to the disease after numerous treatments. To his last night with us, he comforted us, held our hands, and hugged us close. Part of us is at peace he is not suffering anymore, but that doesn’t make up for the loss and loneliness of missing him.

Art is preceded in death by his parents, Art and Wilma Chandler; sister-in-law, Jean; Kuma-Chan (our loving and fiercely protective German Shepherd/Chow Chow mix little ball of fluff who never understood he wasn’t an 80-pound lap dog); and a succession of huge cars (one affectionately nick-named, “The boat”). Art is sorely missed and survived by his wife, Cat; 2 children, his favorite daughter and favorite son, Taura and Brandon; 3 magnificant grandchildren, Derrick, Amber, and Emma, all of whom he was immensely proud of the awesome adults they are; mother and father-in-law, Donna and Buz; brothers-in-law, Ken (Lori), Don (Kathy), Keith, and Tom (Whitney); sister-in-law, Carolyn; sisters, Linda and Laura; cousins, Godchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Everyone who remembers Art is asked to commemorate him in their own way, telling a ‘He wasn’t so bad’ or ‘What an ass’ story of their choosing.

There will be no viewing since his wife refuses to honor his request to have him standing in the corner of the room with a glass of scotch in his hand. Art previously requested that he be buried with his Jaguar. As the Jag is gone, Art’s ashes will be kept in an urn, passed from family member to family member until no one can remember what’s in the jar.