A Life Story

Joseph Michael Chandler, Sr., 87, died on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Joseph was born in Alabama and moved to Savannah, Georgia when he was 3 years old and considered Savannah his home. He was the son of Grady Chandler and Mildred Erwin Chandler. He graduated from Commercial High School in 1956 and joined the U.S. Navy where he worked on torpedoes and retired as a Chief in 1975. He went on to work Civil Service for 30 years as an inspector of Tomahawk missiles. He married his high school sweetheart Mary Lou Summerlin on August 30, 1958. They had 3 children, Julie, Joseph, and Allen. He enjoyed football and was a major Green Bay Packers fan. He also attended his high school reunions in Savannah up until this past May. He was very sociable and enjoyed visiting his friends at Coaches Corner. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou Summerlin Chandler, of 59 years in 2017, and his grandson, Joseph Michael Chandler III, in 2017. He leaves behind his daughter, Julie Marie Chandler of Charleston, SC; his son, Joseph Michael Chandler, Jr. (Cynthia Marie McCann Chandler) of Chandler, TX; and his son, Hilliard Allen Chandler of Chandler, Texas. He leaves behind his grandchildren, Jason Elary Stott, Emily Turner Stoll (Chelsea Ann Stoll), Nicholas Allan Chandler, Kimberly White, Jason (Monica) Chandler, R.J. Thelen, Joseph Lee (Julie), Judson Lee (Janie); and great-grandchildren Zachary Alan Gould, Michael Ray Gould, Garrett Lee, Steven Lee, Thatcher Jones, and Emily Jones. He leaves behind his niece, Carla Hall of Kokomo, Indiana; a nephew, Mark Hall of Pooler, GA; and a great-niece, April Hall of Kokomo, Indiana. He leaves behind a great many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 11:00 a.m, at the Fox & Weeks Islands Chapel, with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. The burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Garden. Food and refreshments will follow at Coaches Corner, 3016 E. Victory Dr., Thunderbolt, GA.