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William Chandler
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M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home
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Obituary for William Michael "Mike" Chandler

William Michael "Mike"  Chandler
GLENS FALLS

William Michael "Mike" Chandler, 62, of Glens Falls, and formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, died on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 after a brief and brave battle with cancer.

The son of Clyde W. "Bill" and Elizabeth (Scott) Chandler, Mike was born in Memphis on December 20, 1952 in the back of a taxi cab en route to the hospital. His mother often joked that it was the last time he was in a hurry to do anything.

A graduate of Kingsbury High School in Memphis, Mike began working construction with his brother-in-law while in school. He spent the majority of his adult life in the commercial construction field, working for several different companies on many buildings around Memphis. He was proudest by far to have worked on a renovation at Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Upon joining the Carpenter's Union, Mike then moved to upstate New York and worked until a shoulder injury ended his career. He then turned his skills to his own home, where he was often working on multiple projects at a time.

He married the love of his life, Kelli, on May 30, 2004 in Queensbury, NY. They made their home in Glens Falls, where Mike was often found working on the house, landscaping, gardening, puttering in his garage, and spending time with his faithful dog, Sophie.

The greatest joy of Mike's life was his family. He was from a large family and married into a large family, and nothing made him happier than being in the midst of them all. He was especially close to his daughter, Michelle, and her family. He often said his two youngest children, Bre and Ares, were responsible for the recent appearance of grey hairs, but he loved being with them, teaching them, and working on things together. He had just finished carving oak "magic wands" for them at the time he fell ill.

In addition to his father, Bill, Mike was preceded in death by his mother, "Memee," in September of last year; his infant brother, Kenneth; his daughter, Heather; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is survived by his wife, Kelli Deveney-Chandler, and their children, Breanna and Ares, of Glens Falls, NY; his daughter, Michelle Ficklen, and her husband, Wesley of Memphis, TN; his grandbabies, Atlan, Dismas, and Ronan Ficklen of Memphis, TN; Jordan Coleman of Trumann, Arkansas; and Shea and Kelsy Deveney of Columbia, SC; his sister, Barbara Nabors of Tupelo, MS; his brother, Jimmy Chandler and his wife, Anita, of Bartlett, TN; his in-laws, Douglas and Nancy Deveney of South Glens Falls, NY and Lila Deveney and Beak Gouker of Myersville, MD; his brothers-in-law, Shaun Deveney of Hudson Falls, NY, Douglas Deveney (currently serving in Afghanistan) and his wife, Mary, of Columbia, SC, and Jason Martin and his wife Michelle of South Glens Falls, NY; his nieces and nephews: Dannie and Leslie Nabors, Forest and Deanna Nabors, all of Tupelo, MS; Scott and Jamie Chandler of Memphis, TN; Kyle Chandler of Bowling Green, OH; Emily Chandler of Bartlett, TN; Ethan Deveney of Columbia, SC; Jason Martin II and Katie Martin of South Glens Falls, NY; his aunts and uncles, Donald and Margarit Scott of Arlington, TN, with whom he was very close; Tony Scott and his wife Glenda of Hernando, MS; and Diane Cogburn of Sanford, FL; many great-nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends; and his adored German Shepherd dog, Sophie.

Calling hours will be held locally on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. at M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803. To leave online condolences or to view Mike’s Book of Memories, please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Glens Falls, 8 Notre Dame Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801.

Calling hours will be held in Mike's beloved hometown and final resting place of Memphis, Tennessee on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 5-7 p.m. at Forest Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park East, 2440 Whitten Road, Memphis, TN 38133. A funeral service and burial will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.

Per Mike's wishes, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to benefit Breanna and Ares Chandler's future education to: The Chandler Children's Fund, c/o Glens Falls National Bank 147 Saratoga Avenue, Route 9, South Glens Falls, NY 12804.

The family wishes to thank the incomparable staff of the Oncology Floor (Tower 2) at Glens Falls Hospital, especially Stacey and Jamie, for their unbelievably compassionate and wonderful care of Mike. You brought light to our darkest hours, and we will forever be grateful.


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