Hubert Kenneth Chandler Jr.

CHANDLER, Hubert Kenneth Jr. (Jerry) Born April 24, 1926 in Petaluma, CA. Died August 28, 2001 in McArthur, CA. He was 75. Jerry was from a pioneer family in Sonoma County and a longtime resident. He graduated from Petaluma Senior High School, class of 1944, and married his high school sweetheart, Marvel Moore. He joined the Navy serving until his ship, the USS Sylvester, was sunk by a German torpedo in the Indian Ocean. He survived seven days floating on a raft until he and other crew members were rescued. Jerry played semi-pro football for the Petaluma Leghorns. In the early years, Jerry worked on his family’s chicken ranch in Petaluma, and drove logging truck for his uncle at Brown’s Mill, Fort Ross, CA. He was a heavy equipment operator, building dams for dairy ranchers in Sonoma, and Marin Counties before he and his wife bought the family business, a popular ice cream store, Chandler’s Dairy. In 1965, Jerry and Marvel moved their family to McArthur, CA where Jerry had enjoyed hunting and fishing for years before. While settling in the beautiful Fall River Valley, Jerry enjoyed their small farm, raising vegetables, and livestock while also working for Lorenze plywood plant, Louisiana Pacific, and Fiberboard. He retired in 1987. Jerry was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved camping. In later years, Jerry traded his gun for a video camera. He was captivated by the beauty of wildlife. Jerry’s other passion was the history of the Native Americans, and the mountain men who roamed the land. He was an ardent reader of American History. Jerry’s enthusiasm for the life of the mountain men prompted him and other family members to start their own black powder club. Jerry and Marvel have been active members of the Pit River Pioneers Black Powder Club for many years. Jerry served as Range Master. The love of football led Jerry to find a position as assistant coach to high school kids, and he brought smiles to kids and adults alike playing Santa Claus for the McArthur Fireman’s Auxiliary bazaars. He also loved playing bridge. Jerry was a member of the Petaluma Masonic Lodge, Redwood, and Sparrow Gun Clubs, the NRA, Sonoma County Trail Blazers, Pit River Pioneers, and a member of the Fort Crook Historical Society. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert Kenneth Chandler Sr. and Dorothy Kathryn Chandler, and his sister, Shirley Graves. Besides his loving wife of 56 years, Marvel, Jerry is survived by his daughters Jill Chandler and Jacklyn Chandler of Petaluma, and Joy Chandler of McArthur, his son, Jerry Chandler of Fall River Mills and his daughter-in-law, Linda Chandler of Fall River Mills, 10 grandchildren, Celia Frizzell of Azle, TX, Heather Paula, Michael Paula, and Melissa Paula of Santa Rosa, Daniel Keltner of Fall River Mills, David Keltner of Oxnard, CA, and Lindsay Garcia of McArthur, Ron Gooch, of Redding, Jerry (Bugs) Chandler of Sacramento, and Jody Dean of McArthur, and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, John Graves of Petaluma, nephews, Rod Moore of Petaluma, and Bill Graves of Chico, and nieces Dale Marie Moore of Cotati, and Sherry Harper. Jerry’s dear friends and many more family members are innumerable and he loved them all. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, September 4, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pit River Pioneer Rendezvous site, Hwy. 299E. Internment will be at Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma on Friday, September 7, 2001, at 11:00 a.m. Contributions may be made to Fort Crook Historical Society, P.O. Box 397, Fall River Mills, CA, 96028, or a charity of choice.