Roger Carl Chandler

Roger Carl Chandler passed away peacefully on March 23, 2012 at the age of 85.

Roger was born October 19, 1926 in Marysville California, the son of W. Ray Chandler and Grace Johnson Chandler. Roger grew up on the family farm on Rednall Road in Sutter County; family legend has it that he regularly rode his horse to Bridge Street School in Yuba City. He graduated from Yuba City High School in 1944, and at the age of 17 joined the US army.

Roger attended UC Davis where he was editor of the 1948 yearbook and received his degree in pomology (the science of tree fruit) in 1949. He returned to Sutter County to begin his career as a farmer.

On June 11, 1949 Roger married Lois Jacqueline Kofahl. Roger and Jackie had two sons, Judge Chris Chandler of Yuba City, and Dr. Charles F. Chandler of Los Angeles.

Over the course of his career Roger farmed prunes, peaches, almonds and walnuts, pioneering the growing of walnuts in the Feather River river bottoms. He owned a soft water company, a boat business, a real estate brokerage (Roger C. Chandler and Associates) and was involved in real estate development.

Roger's commitment to volunteer service was deep. He served as a Cub Scout Pack leader, a member of the Sutter County Grand Jury, Sutter County Board of Education, Yuba-Sutter Fair Board and for many years was an active member and booster of the 4H/ FFA Junior Livestock Committee for the Yuba-Sutter Fair. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Marysville.

Roger had strong convictions and relished politics. He served on the Sutter County Republican Central Committee in the 1950's and 1960's. He was an alternate delegate for Barry Goldwater at the 1964 Republican National Convention. He was a seven-county campaign chairman for Ronald Reagan's first campaign for Governor in 1968. Roger served two terms on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors from 1980-1988. He was appointed to serve on two statewide boards by two California Governors.

Roger enjoyed pheasant and duck hunting, fishing, antique Fords, dominoes, growing vast quantities of backyard fruits and vegetables, and raising animals of all kinds. In what would today be called "the early empty nest phase", Roger briefly had over 20 Welsh ponies which he (with characteristic humor) called "Folly Farms".

Together, Roger and Jackie cherished good times with family and friends. They had many travel adventures, from single engine plane trips to El Salvador with Roger's brother Bob, to challenging the Swiss Alps in a four cylinder diesel car. For eleven years, Roger and Jackie lived in Inverness, the site of many fond and formative memories for their six grandchildren.

While he seldom spoke of it outside the family, Roger was extremely proud of his family and its background. On his father's side, he was an eleventh generation farmer in this country. He was very proud of his mom's family's more recent immigrant roots and the hardships they overcame. His grandfather, W. F. Chandler, was a long time member of the California Assembly and Senate from Fresno County and his parents were highly respected farmers and dairy operators in Yuba and Sutter Counties. He believed strongly in the dignity of hard work and the blessings that followed a commitment to family and community, whatever the individual's calling. He was delighted by his grandchildren, their families, and the character and promise he saw in each of them.

Roger was predeceased by his siblings Robert Chandler of Bend Oregon, Marion Rowe of Davis and Jean Davies of Sacramento, and granddaughter Katherine Reiko Chandler.

He is survived by his wife Jackie, sons Chris (Cindy) and Charlie (Becky), grandchildren Carolyn Ebert (Travis), Jessica Sanchez (William), Emily Chandler, Rachel Guinness (Tom), Natalie Chandler, and Michael Chandler, great grandchildren KC, Tatum and Peyton, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service in celebration of Roger's life will be held Sunday, April 1, 2012 at noon at St. John's Episcopal Church, 800 D Street, Marysville California.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Roger's memory may be made to Family Soup.

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