Granville 'Gene' Eugene Chandler

Granville Eugene “Gene” Chandler, son of the late Barney Granville and Dorothy Alice (Cole) Chandler, was born on July 21, 1937 in Hartville, Missouri and departed this life on June 11, 2010 at his residence near Mountain Grove, Missouri, following a sudden illness, at 72 years, 10 months and 21 days of age.
Gene was raised in the Hartville and Mountain Grove Communities. He attended Mountain Grove High School with the class of 1956. Gene entered the United States Army in 1957 and served his country for twenty-six years, retiring in 1983. He served in Turkey, and twice in both Germany and Korea. Following his retirement from the Army, he was employed as a bus driver for Unique Services in Mtn. Grove for seventeen years and retired in 1999.
Gene was a faithful Christian and devoted member of the Prior Freewill Baptist Church. He was united in marriage to Shirley Wheat on December 7, 1979 in Miami, Oklahoma. Together they share seven children.
He was a loving and caring father, grandfather, brother, friend and neighbor. He loved spending time with his family and many friends, especially his best friend and wife, Shirley. He also enjoyed spending time with his dog, “Lucky.”
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister: Ruth Chandler.
He is survived by his loving wife: Shirley Chandler of their home; their seven children: Valorie Tinsley and her fiancé, Lynn Robertson, of Graff, Missouri, Donita Virtue and her husband, Mike, of Seymour, Indiana, Cheryl Barker and her husband, Harry, of Chouteau, Oklahoma, Douglas Wheat and his wife, Isabell of Gloucester, Virginia, Samantha Smith and her husband, Rick, of West Plains, Missouri, Eric Wheat of West Plains, Missouri, and Shawna Clark of Warner Robins, Georgia; two brothers: Joe Chandler of Mtn. Gove and Dow Chandler of Alma, Arkansas; twenty-six grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss him very much.


Graveside Services:
Monday, June 14, 2:00 PM in the Gentryville Cemetery south of Mtn. Grove, Missouri.
Visitation:
Sunday, June 13th - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM in the funeral home.
Burial:
Gentryville Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial Contributions:
Prior Church c/o the funeral home.