Clarence De Marr Chandler

Clarence De Marr Chandler, 80, of La Grande, died April 20 at a local care center. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. today at Union Baptist Church in Union.

Clarence was born July 8, 1929, at home in Elgin. His mother always boasted about Clarence weighing 12 pounds at birth. He was the middle child of five born to James Riley and Francis Reed Chandler.

He attended school and graduated from Elgin High School.

On Sept. 25, 1949, he married Maxine Trump. They celebrated 60 years of marriage last September.

Clarence worked for 40 years as a sawyer for Boise Cascade. He was also the fire chief for La Grande Rural Fire Department 1963-1988. After his retirement from Boise Cascade in 1994, to stay busy and fit, he mowed lawns and did snow removal.

He was a lifetime member of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, the Rescue Hose Company (La Grande Fire Museum) and the Union Baptist Church.

Clarence loved Jesus as his savior. His quiet, loving and loyal spirit was an example to his children, grandchildren and those who knew him well. Those who knew him say he was a hard-working man who passed the trait on to his children and grandchildren.

Clarence is survived by his life-long love, his wife; his, daughter-in-law, Deborah Chandler of La Grande; son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Joni Chandler, of Island City; daughter and son-in-law, Bill and Linda Hansen, of La Grande, daughter and son-in-law, Jason and Merri Williams, of La Grande; and son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Kim Chandler of La Grande; brother, George Chandler of Elgin; sister, Lois Lovan of Caldwell, Idaho; 12 grandchildren; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his son, Clarence Franklin "Frank" Chandler; his parents; brother, James; and infant sister, Marion Kathleen.

Clarence loved Camp Elkanah. In his younger days, he drove bus and took kids to camp. He cut firewood for the camp, worked on his work days and in later years, mowed the lawns weekly.

Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Elkanah, P.O. Box 150, La Grande 97850.

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