Jay Chandler

A potluck memorial reception to celebrate the life of Jay Chandler, 82, will be Jan. 19 in the Steptoe Grange Hall at noon. Mr. Chandler died at his home in Steptoe Jan. 6, 2019. He will be buried at the Steptoe cemetery.

Born July 30, 1936, to Richard and Phyllis Harding Chandler at Asotin, he graduated from Colville High School in 1955 and joined the United States Navy. He served on the USS Polk Country and took part in the Korean War stabilization. After he received his discharge, he was introduced to Janet Rae Hedrick by his father. They were married Nov. 24, 1960, in Colville.

They briefly made their home in Spokane where they had two sons, and Jay started a handyman business. In 1967, the family moved to the Steptoe\Colfax area where Jay worked at Jones Truck & Implement and Arrow Machinery. He then became a warehouseman for WSU.

He traveled around the state to collect and sell state and federal surplus property. They retired in 1991. He was a member of many gun clubs, War Eagles and Round Belly. While as a member of Elks he paired up with Colfax Jaycee's and coached a youth BB gun competition team. He was a founder of the Palouse Hills Muzzleloading club, and he taught gun safety for more than 12 years. Jay was a member of the Grange for 57 years.

He is preceded in death by a son, Brian.

Surviving are his wife, Janet; son, Brad (Shelia) Chandler; four grandchildren; six step-grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.