David Chandler's Obituary
David Alan Chandler was born October 22, 1952, to Earl Shannon Chandler and Adelle Rudd Chandler. He passed away on August 3, 2025 at his home in Nacogdoches; he was the youngest of nine children. David grew up in Martinsville, TX and attended school there through 10th grade before transferring to Nacogdoches High School for his junior and senior years. He graduated from high school in 1971.
Growing up on a farm, David learned the meaning of hard work at an early age. His hard work ethic led him to construction work after he attended Stephen F. Austin. From 1973 to 1979, David worked for Tucker Smith, his brother- in-law, where he learned the trade of building gunite swimming pools. Later, he and a coworker bought the pool business from Tucker. David built pools in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Tyler, and areas surrounding East Texas. He was known for perfection and doing the job right the first time. He believed in treating people fairly. After 51 years in the pool business, David retired in 2024 when his health got bad.
David met Susan Holman, his wife, at a country western dance in 1975; this was the beginning of many decades of dancing for the two. They married in December of 1977 and welcomed their daughter, Emily, to the family in 1985. David and Susan taught Emily some important life lessons: to love God, work hard on the farm by feeding cows and baling hays to treat people fairly, and how to dance. David also included the next generation in those same lessons.
He is survived by his wife, Susan; daughter, Emily and husband, Richard Perimon, of Nacogdoches and grandson Evin Perimon of East Peoria, Illinois and granddaughters Dallis, Peyton, and Alyssa Perimon of Nacogdoches. He is also survived by brothers Mike Chandler of Nacogdoches and Fred Chandler and wife,
Claudette, of Nacogdoches. Surviving sisters include Betty and husband, Don Hamilton, of Clear Lake,
Texas and Karon and husband, Steve Young, of Bullard, Texas. David is preceded in death by parents,
Earl and Adelle Chandler, sisters Barbara England of Austin and Earlene Smith and husband, Tucker, of Martinsville, brothers Billy and wife Bessie of College Station and Clarence and wife, Dorotha, of Nacogdoches. David was blessed with many nieces and nephews and was known as "Uncle David" by friends of his nieces and nephews.
Friends and family frequently describe David as "one-of-a-kind". His dry sense of humor brought laughter to those around him and his big heart led him to help people in ways that weren't often mentioned. He never met a stranger because he was innately curious and always asked questions to see if there was a connection of some kind through proximity, kinship, or interest. David and his family attended SFA basketball games for over 30 years and they attended car shows in his classic 1972 truck. He devotedly watched his granddaughters play softball and loved to go dancing at Luckenbach, Texas.
David's passing leaves a void in the hearts of many. His Celebration of Life is on Saturday, August 23 from pm at First Baptist Church, Nacogdoches. 2Cremation under the direction of Colonial Mortuary.
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