Lawrence Ray Chandler, age 70, a lifelong resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed from this life, Saturday, January 21, 2017, in De Queen.
Lawrence was born August 2, 1946, in Sentinel, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of nine, born to Frankie Gene and Lona Lee Griggs Chandler. He married the love of his life, Marian Joyce Penney, on November 24, 1965. In 1968, Lawrence graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science; and has since, dedicated his life to serving his community as a funeral director, and for countless years, as county coroner. Breaking ground in 1998, along with his wife Marian, Lawrence became the proud owner and founder of Chandler Funeral Home. Over the years, Lawrence has been an active member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Gideon’s International, the Arkansas Funeral Director’s Association, and the National Funeral Director’s Association. He was a member of Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in De Queen.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Jeffrey Chandler, his parents, three brothers, Randall Eugene Chandler, Franklin Chandler, and Dub Chandler, four sisters, Grace Settoon, Ruth Dorsey, Becky Alice Allen and Lois Wray.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of over 51 years, Marian Penney Chandler of De Queen; a daughter, Stephanie Kaye Chandler-Wishard of De Queen; two grandchildren, Lawrence Allen Wishard and Andrea Nichole Wishard, both of De Queen; a great-granddaughter, Khloé Grace Wishard of De Queen; a brother and sister-in-law, Noel Duane and Sandy Chandler of Brenham, Texas; three sisters-in-law, Linda Ann Brazile of Amarillo, Texas, Jane Chandler of Horatio, Arkansas and Carol Chandler of De Queen; a number of nieces, nephews, other family members, and a host of friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Lawrence Chandler, will be held, Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at 2:00 P.M. in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jason Carlton officiating. Burial will follow in Redmen Cemetery under the direction of the Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen. The family will receive friends Tuesday, January 24, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. You may send an online sympathy message at www.chandlerfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, please donate In Memory of Lawrence Chandler to Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-9984 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.