Vera Chandler

Vera Ingaborg Olson Watchman Chandler

Vera Ingaborg Olson Watchman Chandler, age 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, July 6, 2017.

Vera was born at home in Dunkirk, Saskatchewan, Canada on Sunday, November 23, 1919 to John and Emma Olson.  She was the fourth child of six children.  After graduating from school, on October 18, 1939 she married John ‘Jack’ Watchman and moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada while her husband served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.

After the war and an honorable military discharge, they returned to Regina, Saskatchewan to begin their family.  They were proud parents of three children: Thomas - deceased (Barbara) Watchman, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Richard (Tori) Watchman, Sandy; and Shelley (Randall) Bennett, North Salt Lake.  On January 4, 1974, her beloved Jack passed away from a heart attack.

On November 17, 1989, Vera remarried an amazing man and dear companion, Foster R. Chandler, who had lost his dear wife Faye.  Vera was equally proud of and dearly loved Foster and Faye’s seven children: Yvonne (Harry M. ‘Bud’) DeRyke, Layton; RaNae (Don - deceased) Hulse, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Steven (Nelda) Chandler, currently serving an LDS mission in the Jamaica Kingston Mission; Marie (Lee) Christensen, Layton; Becky (Scott) Jorgensen, Syracuse; David (Chris) Chandler, Draper; and Peggy (Chris) Read, Layton.

Vera’s greatest joy was her family: in total she and Foster have 10 married children, 34 grandchildren, and 100 great-grandchildren.

Vera served six missions: a proselyting mission in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission as a single sister and a proselyting mission with Foster in the Belgium Brussels Mission.  She also served with Foster in the Salt Lake City and Ogden areas including service missions with the Welfare, Employment, Church Humanitarian Center Pharmacy and Family History departments.

Vera loved the gospel and gained a testimony of its truthfulness quickly after hearing it from the missionaries in 1951.  She would lovingly and emphatically bear her testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the love she had for her Savior.  She will always be remembered as one who willingly and happily served her family, friends and all those with whom she came in contact.  She taught by example and love.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Syracuse South Stake Center, 3065 South Bluff Road, Syracuse, UT.  Friends may visit family Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Clearfield City Cemetery.