Rick Chandler

James Richard (Rick) Chandler 68, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 25th in Canyon Lake Texas after succumbing to years of heart disease. He was born October 30, 1956 in Greenville, Texas to James Avon Chandler and Bettye Lou Riddle Chandler. Rick was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to all.

Rick grew up quickly. At five years old he learned to shoot a bb gun with accuracy. When he was nine years old, he and his older sister worked the family’s snow-cone business every summer until he reached high school. Rick was very active with the 4-H Club and FFA and spent all of his spare time at the local stock yards assisting ranchers with livestock. He maintained high grades in school in order to qualify for memberships to these organizations.

At fourteen years old, Rick left with friends in the summer to break horses and work as a ranch hand in Colorado Springs. It was a turning point for him as it was an independence he had never known. He returned to Texas in the Fall and began raising his own livestock. At 16, he participated in the Fat Stock Shows in Fort Worth, Houston and Dallas showing his Santa Gertrudis “Blooper” which took 2nd place in Dallas at the 1974 Texas State Fair. Rick loved the rodeo and competed in several Bull Riding events. He also rode a stallion named “Outlaw” who was as stubborn and independent as his owner.

In High School Rick was very well liked by his classmates and was voted “Friendliest” his senior year. He was always ready in the good fight, championing weaker boys who couldn’t defend themselves in the school yard and standing up to older boys looking for trouble. With his natural ability to defend, Rick became proficient in Martial Arts. He achieved his black belt in Karate, preferring Shotokan and Soo Bahk Do while mastering the Dragon and Tiger fighting styles. He created his own kata and mentored those who sought his unique methods.

Every year Rick loved to meet with his Dad, Uncle and Cousins at their deer lease in east Texas around Thanksgiving. He enjoyed hunting, camping and sitting around the campfire with the boys swapping stories and sharing opinions.

In December 1985 he met his wife in Dallas and were married in December 21,1986. They welcomed their only son Jack in June 1989 and shortly afterwards moved to Corpus Christi. They resided there until 1993 and then moved to Canyon Lake Texas where he lived the rest of his life.

Rick was truly a Jack of All Trades. He had many jobs and many trades during his life. As a young man in Greenville, he was a train wrecker, then became a plumber’s assistant and then was an electrician’s assistant. Later, Rick worked for Southwestern Bell as a telephone pole technician for many years. Afterwards, he moved to Dallas in 1985 attending nine training schools to qualify for a Corporate Telephone Sales position. While working for SWB he was also a Union Steward. After he left that job he worked as a Chimney Serviceman, and then he took a property managers position in San Antonio for many years. Rick later worked as a lawn care expert, then left to install HVAC units for industrial properties and ended his last job in a woodworking position.

Rick had diverse knowledge and total recall of World History. He enjoyed telling historical trivia and his favorite era in history was the Civil War between the States and the reconstruction of the South. He always felt connected with that time period as if he had been there and witnessed it. Rick was also greatly influenced by his Cherokee linage and he became involved with the local Indian community attending Sun Dance ceremonies and rituals.

Rick had a talent for writing songs about life’s troubles and over-coming them. His music tastes were diverse; he liked the blues, country-western, classical symphonic, classic rock, new age, pop, jazz, folk, reggae, American Indian chants and Irish ballads.

If anyone could tell a joke with finesse, it was Rick. He especially loved to tell politically incorrect and off-color jokes. Anything to raise an eyebrow, or a glass, but especially a laugh. He just loved to make people laugh and went out of his way to create methods to get one.

At home he was the ultimate handyman: a skilled gardener planting trees and fertilizing the lawn, painting the house, building the deck, making fences, installing ceiling fans, fixing wall sockets, plumbing repairs and more. When he wasn’t tackling a chore, Rick loved grilling meats and thus he created a business called “Shag’s Outdoors” after inventing a meat rub called “Mop Sauce”. He distributed and sold the rub locally in Dallas. Inspired with his product, he also wrote recipes for his “Mop Sauce” cookbook called “Shag’s Kitchen Compadre” with southwestern cuisine recipes.

In his spare time Rick enjoyed hunting and camping with his cousins on the deer lease, fishing, water skiing, boating, and riding his motorcycle all around the Texas Hill Country. Riding the motorcycle was his passion and there was never a certain destination, it was always an unplanned route to ride boldly ride.

Rick is preceded in death by his mother Betty Riddle Chandler and father James Avon Chandler. He is survived by his wife Katherine Ann (Kat), his son Jack Powell and wife Araceli and granddaughter Haley Jade; his sister Nancy and brother-in-law Tom Olson; his niece Abigail Olson Evans and nephew Chad Olson, his uncle Nathan Chandler, cousins Mark Anthony Chandler and Tammy Chandler Campbell, and cousins Steve Sprinkle, Terry Sprinkle and Karen Sprinkle George; cousins Wayne Riddle and Susan Riddle Mehidizadeh.