Betty Jean Chandler

The Lord called Betty Chandler home Saturday, January 19th, after a long battle with many chronic illnesses. She was born Betty Jean Gault on September 28, 1931 in Lockhart, South Carolina to Maude and Forney Gault. She graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1948 and lived and worked in that area until 1951 when she moved to Mobile, Alabama where she met and married the love of her life, Kenneth M. Chandler in 1955. Betty worked for the U.S. Air Force for 16 years beginning in 1951 at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile. She was the editor of the base newspaper until that base was closed in 1965. Betty and Ken were transferred to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, where she continued to work on the paper until her resignation in 1967 to become a full-time mother and homemaker. The family moved to Granite Bay (then called Loomis), in 1975, so daughters Teri and Tami could ride and show horses.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Kenneth, in 2008. She is survived by daughter Teri Gibson, husband Larry, and their two sons Larry Jr. and Brandon; daughter Tami Uhler and husband Kirk, and their two children Jacy and Jaden; brother-in-law Lew and wife Carole, and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was a kind, selfless, feisty, funny, strong woman who just loved people and was loved by them. She made everyone feel like family. She had an amazing and adventurous life, well-lived. Her passing leaves a gaping hole in many hearts but there is comfort in knowing the last words she heard on earth were the first words she heard in heaven: “I love you”. She is also whole again and can walk, and is out of pain, and has certainly already danced and sang and played the piano again.

A public celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 2, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bayside Church, Granite Bay campus. Arrangements are being handled by Reichart’s Funeral Services. Private interment will be at Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery in Fair Oaks.