Homer C. Chandler

Homer Call Chandler was born February 12, 1925 in a small Idaho farming town called Samaria. His parents were William James Chandler and Mary Nancy Call. He grew up in Samaria, Preston, Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho as the 9th of 12 kids. During the Great Depression he and all of his siblings had to work to help his parents afford food and a roof over their heads. When he was 12 years old he worked at a gas station helping change tires for 10 cents an hour, which he dutifully turned over to his Father each day. He played the trumpet and french horn during jr. high, high school and in the Army band. He graduated from high school in Idaho Falls in 1943 and was promptly drafted into the US Army.
After training at Camp Adair, Oregon, he was on his way to New Caledonia in the South Pacific for jungle combat training. The reward for all that combat training was to be shipped off to the island of Iwo Jima to fight alongside the Marines to capture the island. It was a desperate and bloody battle that was indescribable in its intensity and violence. After that battle was over, he was shipped to Okinawa to participate in the final major battle of World War II. While there and training for the invasion of Japan, the US dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, bringing an end to the war. He returned home in 1946.
In October, 1947 he was called to a 3 year LDS mission in France. The church in France was still trying to recover from the devastation of WWII, so a great deal of his mission was re-establishing priesthood leadership (most of the French church leaders had been killed or kidnapped for slave labor by the German army), coordinating church relief supplies from America, as well as teaching the gospel.
After returning home he enrolled at Idaho State University, earning a Bachelors degree in political science and then to the University of Utah for a Masters degree in Public Administration. While there he met a lovely young lady named Mary Helen Fergus and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 29, 1952. In the years to follow they had 6 Children, 29 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren…with two on the way.
He had a long and productive career in government administration, working as an Assistant to the Mayor of Salt Lake City, City Manager in: South Salt Lake, Utah, Monticello, Utah and Millbrae, California and then as Executive Director of Regional Government agencies in: Portland, Oregon, Las Vegas, Nevada and Provo, Utah. From libraries to golf courses to water supply systems to airport facilities to waterfront greenbelt community parks he left his mark in the development of each community where he worked.
As a man of great faith he had a lifetime of service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, including callings as a seminary and primary teacher, Young Mens President, gospel doctrine teacher, high priest group leader, high councilor, Bishop, three Stake Presidencies, and years as a temple worker.
Upon retirement from his career, he and his wife Helen served missions together in: the Ivory Coast, Africa, Northern England, and a public affairs mission in Salt Lake City. Missionary work runs deep in his family. Each of his children served as missionaries in: England, Japan, South Dakota, New York City, Norway and Ohio. Nine of his grandchildren have also served as missionaries and now the first of his great grandchildren is currently serving. This wonderful heritage also includes a son and a grandson who served honorably in the military.
Homer was 93 years old at the time of his passing, living at home with Helen, his sweetheart of 66 years, and still very much the patriarch of his family. His mortal life was a great adventure full of many wonderful accomplishments and service to others. He now moves on to be with other family members and continue to lead and serve in the next great adventure beyond.
Service Information
Viewing June 15, 2018 at 9:30 - 10:30 AM
7500 South 700 East, Union 2nd Ward, Midvale, UT, 84047





Funeral Service
June 15, 2018 at 11:00 - 12:00 PM
7500 South 700 East, Union 2nd Ward, Midvale, UT, 84047