Jackie "Jack" Ray Chandler

In Loving Memory of Jackie Ray Chandler Early Sunday morning June 1, 2025 Jackie Ray Chandler made his final journey home. Jackie (JACK) to everybody that loved and knew him was born September 16, 1940 in Clovis, New Mexico to Raymond and Dolly Inez Chandler. Jack was the oldest of three sisters Shirley, Lenora and Barbara. He spent most of his life in Southern California where he graduated from Excelsior high school in Norwalk California. After high school Jack went on to join the army where he serve time in Germany and Vietnam during the Vietnam war. His job in the armed services was to deliver fuel to the trucks, airplanes, and helicopters that our service men used. After the army Jack embarked on a career as a truck driver and in 1967 he met the love of his life Joan May Chandler. In 1971 he would go on to marry her. Jack had five children, Joseph, William ,John, his daughters Laura and Jacque. Jack’s greatest joy in life was his family. He enjoyed camping in the summertime, barbecues, model cars, airplanes and trucks. He also enjoyed watching the Colorado Rockies and going to watch his daughter play softball with his grandson and best buddy Christopher Webster. There wasn’t a soul that he didn’t like, and if you met him once you were forever his friend. He taught his children, their greatest asset was your work ethic, that it’s OK to make mistakes, and to not make promises that you couldn’t keep. Jack is proceeded in death by his parents, Raymond and Dolly Chandler his loving wife, Joan May Chandler, and his son John Sven DeFer, and his sister Lenora Pine. He is survived by his sons Joseph DeFer. ( Jennifer ), William DeFer (Dianna), Laura Flores-Dahl (Dakota) , Jacque Hammons, his sister Shirley Seña and Barbara Burd (Larry) as well as his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews near and far. Jack’s final words would be… I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when this life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; Of happy memories that I leave when my life is done. Thank you Dad for loving us the way that you did. Laura, Jacque, Joe and Bill. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2025 at Iron Mountain Country Church.