Barbara Chandler England

Barbara Chandler England, 73, passed away on November 18, 2016, in Austin, Texas. She will be remembered as someone who greatly loved her family and had a talent for bringing beauty and style to special occasions and into all corners of everyday life. She was born to Adelle Rudd Chandler and Earl Chandler on November 9, 1943, in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was the fifth of nine children. Her lifelong passion for reading started when she was a young girl. She taught her younger brothers and sisters how to read and would even escape to the roof of the house to find a quiet place to lose herself in a book!

After graduating from Nacogdoches High School, she attended Stephen F. Austin University. At SFA, her good looks turned heads and were appreciated by her classmates. She was voted Most Beautiful on Campus and later selected as the “#1 Beauty of SFA” by a panel of California movie stars.

As a young wife and mother, Barbara, was a dedicated homemaker. Her family moved frequently, with three young boys, Blain, Todd, and Guy, in tow. Time and again, Barbara quickly turned a new house into the perfect family home. It was an unsurpassed talent that made the challenges of adjusting to a new city much easier for everyone in her family. She was a fabulous cook who brought flair to the table, whether it was a simple supper or elegantly feeding a house full of friends and family during the holidays.

She was a gardening genius and could grow anything – indoors or out! Her talent for landscaping earned her several "Yard of the Month" awards. One of her proudest gardening moments was having several photos of the landscape of her Richardson, Texas home featured in an edition of Neil Sperry’s “Complete Guide to Texas Gardening.”

As her beloved boys grew up, she spent time working as a travel agent and for prominent floral designers. Her magnificent floral arrangements graced some of the finest homes and hotels in Dallas including The Mansion on Turtle Creek.

She was known as, “Nana,” to her seven grandchildren, whom she adored. She loved nothing more than gathering together with her sons, their families and all of the grandchildren for a home cooked meal and hours of quality family time.

She was a competitive tennis player, inquisitive reader and enjoyed spending time on South Padre Island. She spent hours watching the waves roll in and taking long walks on the beach and she loved the beauty of a South Padre sunset.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Adelle Rudd Chandler and Earl S. Chandler and a brother, Clarence Chandler. She is survived by her sons, Blain England of Austin, Texas, and children Hudson, Henry, and Helen England of Wimberley, Texas; Todd and Laura England, and children Brooke and Jack England of Dallas, Texas; Guy and Stacey England, and children Harrison and Reid England of Austin, Texas; former husband Hardy England (Elizabeth) of Round Rock, Texas, and brothers and sisters, Earlene Smith (Tucker) of Martinsville, Texas; Billy Chandler (Bessie) of Houston, Texas; Fred Chandler (Claudette) of Nacogdoches, Texas; Betty Hamilton (Don) of Clear Lake, Texas; Mike Chandler of Nacogdoches; Karon Young (Steve) of Dallas, Texas; David Chandler (Susan) of Nacogdoches; and countless nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are being handled by Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors of Nacogdoches. A graveside service and interment will be held at Martinsville Cemetery on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at 11:00 AM with The Reverend Ronnie Sowell officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to a local area food bank or ministry to help feed those in need in honor of Barbara's gift of feeding and caring for those she loved.