Obituary for J.R. Chaney
James Robert (J. R.) Chaney, age 88, of Jefferson City, MO, died peacefully in his sleep Friday, January 11, 2019, at The Timbers Assisted Living, in Holts Summit, MO.
J.R. was born April 10, 1930, in Anderson MO, the son of James Sylvester and Elsie Ann (Horrell) Chaney.
He was married on August 10, 1957 in Fairview, MO, to Gloria Ann Embrey.
J.R. was a 1948 graduate of Anderson High School and a 1951 graduate of Joplin Junior College.
In 1951 he joined the Air Force and served at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL; Maxwell Field, Montgomery, AL; and Randolph AFB, San Antonio, TX. After being discharged in 1955, J.R. continued his education with the benefit of the GI Bill at Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees majoring in business education.
His teaching career started at Rocky Comfort, MO in 1956 – 1958, continuing to Neosho, MO in 1958 – 1967, Springfield, MO, Public School System as city-wide coordinator for Business Education 1967 – 1968, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in Jefferson City, MO, 1968 - 1982. J.R. retired from the Public School Teachers Retirement system in 1982. While working at DESE, J.R. served as the State Advisor of the Future Business Leaders of America.
Following his retirement from DESE, J.R. assisted Gloria in the operation of retail clothing stores at the Capital Mall in Jefferson City and Stonecrest Mall in Osage Beach, MO (1982 – 1988). In 1988 he was employed as a compliance auditor with the Division of Accounting in the Office of Administration and retired from OA Accounting in 2001.
J.R. has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, and an active member of the Jefferson City Wesley United Methodist congregation. In Neosho he was a past member of the Neosho Kiwanis Club and served as faculty advisor for the high school Key Club. J.R. was a volunteer Diplomat for the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a past member of the Jefferson City Sunrise Optimist Club.
Survivors include: his wife of 61 years, Gloria Embrey Chaney; three children: Jan Chaney Whitehead (husband, Paul Whitehead), Katy, TX, Mark Chaney, New York, NY, and Jill Chaney Duncan, Chesterfield, MO; four grandchildren: Lindsay Whitehead Schmidt (husband, Taylor Schmidt), Brooklyn, NY; Sara Whitehead, Houston, TX; Jack Duncan, Columbia, MO and Claire Duncan, Columbia, MO; brother, Don Chaney, (wife, Janet Chaney) Southwest City, MO and sister-in-law, Wanda Chaney, Kansas City, MO; nephews, Alan Chaney and Greg Chaney; nieces, Ann Wilson, Deborah Ernest, Patty Buchanan, Martha Johnson, Elaine Bailey, Carol McCulloch, and Renae Sherman.
J.R. was preceded in death by his parents, “Ves” and Elsie Chaney; brothers, Buddy Chaney and Vates Chaney; and sister, Nona Howard.
A visitation will be held Friday, January 25, 2019 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, Jefferson City, Mo.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, Mo.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment for Missions or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
J.R. was born April 10, 1930, in Anderson MO, the son of James Sylvester and Elsie Ann (Horrell) Chaney.
He was married on August 10, 1957 in Fairview, MO, to Gloria Ann Embrey.
J.R. was a 1948 graduate of Anderson High School and a 1951 graduate of Joplin Junior College.
In 1951 he joined the Air Force and served at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL; Maxwell Field, Montgomery, AL; and Randolph AFB, San Antonio, TX. After being discharged in 1955, J.R. continued his education with the benefit of the GI Bill at Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees majoring in business education.
His teaching career started at Rocky Comfort, MO in 1956 – 1958, continuing to Neosho, MO in 1958 – 1967, Springfield, MO, Public School System as city-wide coordinator for Business Education 1967 – 1968, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in Jefferson City, MO, 1968 - 1982. J.R. retired from the Public School Teachers Retirement system in 1982. While working at DESE, J.R. served as the State Advisor of the Future Business Leaders of America.
Following his retirement from DESE, J.R. assisted Gloria in the operation of retail clothing stores at the Capital Mall in Jefferson City and Stonecrest Mall in Osage Beach, MO (1982 – 1988). In 1988 he was employed as a compliance auditor with the Division of Accounting in the Office of Administration and retired from OA Accounting in 2001.
J.R. has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, and an active member of the Jefferson City Wesley United Methodist congregation. In Neosho he was a past member of the Neosho Kiwanis Club and served as faculty advisor for the high school Key Club. J.R. was a volunteer Diplomat for the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a past member of the Jefferson City Sunrise Optimist Club.
Survivors include: his wife of 61 years, Gloria Embrey Chaney; three children: Jan Chaney Whitehead (husband, Paul Whitehead), Katy, TX, Mark Chaney, New York, NY, and Jill Chaney Duncan, Chesterfield, MO; four grandchildren: Lindsay Whitehead Schmidt (husband, Taylor Schmidt), Brooklyn, NY; Sara Whitehead, Houston, TX; Jack Duncan, Columbia, MO and Claire Duncan, Columbia, MO; brother, Don Chaney, (wife, Janet Chaney) Southwest City, MO and sister-in-law, Wanda Chaney, Kansas City, MO; nephews, Alan Chaney and Greg Chaney; nieces, Ann Wilson, Deborah Ernest, Patty Buchanan, Martha Johnson, Elaine Bailey, Carol McCulloch, and Renae Sherman.
J.R. was preceded in death by his parents, “Ves” and Elsie Chaney; brothers, Buddy Chaney and Vates Chaney; and sister, Nona Howard.
A visitation will be held Friday, January 25, 2019 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, Jefferson City, Mo.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 2:00 pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, Mo.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment for Missions or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.